LHC dismisses appeal of man convicted of murder of US citizen over property dispute
RAWALPINDI:
A bench of the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court dismissed the appeal of Rizwan Habib, convicted of brutally murdering his ex-wife, American citizen Wajeeha Swati, for possession of valuable properties and other assets valued at around one billion rupees in Morgah, Rawalpindi, and confirmed his death sentence.
The court observed that the ex-husband had murdered his ex-wife in an extremely brutal manner and complete evidence was available against him. The court ruled that he was not entitled to any concessions and should be hanged until death. After the verdict, the convict was transferred to the death cell in Adiala jail.
According to details, Rizwan Habib had entered into a second marriage with Wajeeha Swati by luring her with promises of a profitable business. A few months later, their relationships deteriorated and the American citizen obtained a divorce.
Taking advantage of her stay in the United States, the accused allegedly occupied her four kanal bungalow in Morgah and started transferring other plots in her name.
When the ex-wife went to court against him, the accused allegedly called her back to Pakistan on the pretext of a reconciliation deal and return of all her assets. However, upon her return in October 2021, he murdered her that same night.
His body was wrapped in a carpet and transported from Rawalpindi to Kohat, where he was buried in a hole dug in the yard of a house.
The accused subsequently spread reports that the woman was missing and even filed a petition asking for her recovery. During an investigation by Morgah police, he confessed to the murder after three months, leading to the recovery of the decomposed body in a village in Kohat.
Both Pakistani and American forensic laboratories confirmed the identity of the body as Wajeeha Swati.
A sessions court had awarded him the death sentence last year, but the High Court ordered a retrial on merit. Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka reimposed the death penalty, which was challenged in the High Court.
The appeal was dismissed by the Rawalpindi court.
The High Court observed that the convict had committed a heinous crime and the death penalty was justified.
