RAWALPINDI: All the six suspects arrested in connection with the murder of an American national of Pakistani origin were sent to Adiala jail on 14 days’ judicial remand by civil judge Zaheer Safdar Malik after their physical remand was completed on Tuesday.

On the other hand, the body of the US national, Wajiha Farooq Swati, is lying in the mortuary of the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital which will be flown to the United States after completion of paper works as the police have completed their investigation.

Rizwan Habib Bangash, the ex-husband of the 47-year-old woman, has confessed to killing her. Co-accused Hurriatullah, the father of Bangash, and Sultan, his servant, are charged with aiding and abetting the murder along with three other persons. The six suspects were brought to the court of civil judge amid tight security.

The police had on Dec 26 said Bangash had murdered his ex-wife after kidnapping her and shifted the body to Lakki Marwat where he buried it in a room of his servant’s house.

The police also said they have completed their investigation into the case. Samples for DNA test have been collected and her belongings, especially clothes she was wearing at the time of her murder, retrieved. “The motive behind the murder is evident to be lust for property,” a police official said.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022