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High Court Upholds Death Penalty for Husband in Slain Pakistani-American Woman Property Case
The High Court has maintained the death sentence for the ex-husband of Pakistani-American national Wajiha Swati, firmly rejecting his appeal against the capital punishment.
ND
by News Desk
2026-05-14
High Court Upholds Death Penalty for Husband in Slain Pakistani-American Woman Property Case

A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench has upheld the death sentence of Rizwan Habib for the high-profile murder of his ex-wife, Pakistani-American national Wajiha Swati, ruling that the horrific nature of the crime justified capital punishment.

Headline

Wajiha Swati Case: Court Upholds Death Penalty for Husband in Property-Driven Murder of US National

The Case Details

The latest judicial development on Thursday, May 14, 2026, solidifies a long legal battle stemming from the brutal October 2021 murder.

  • The Motive: According to official court records, Rizwan Habib orchestrated the murder of Wajiha Swati in a bid to seize her properties, which are worth billions of rupees.

  • Deception and Crime: Habib lured Swati back to Pakistan from the United States under the false pretense of settling an asset dispute through a mutual agreement. Upon her arrival, she was kidnapped and killed within the jurisdiction of Rawalpindi's Morgah police station. Her body was later transported to a remote location in Pezu, Lakki Marwat (historically linked to Kohat division in KP), where it was hidden in a deep trench.

  • The Court Ruling: The division bench, comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, dismissed the convict's appeal, ruling that Habib must be "hanged by the neck until dead."

  • Legal History: The case has a complex procedural history. The High Court had previously remanded the initial death sentence back for a retrial. Following the retrial, Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka re-awarded the death sentence to the convict, which has now been validated by the high court.

  • Diplomatic Presence: Reflecting the international sensitivity of the case involving a United States citizen, a team of US diplomats was present in the courtroom during the final proceedings. (The convict's father, who was previously penalized as an accomplice in the initial trial, passed away while incarcerated).
Tagged:

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