Abbottabad: The Peshawar High Court has rejected the bail application of Waheed Ahmad alias Waheed Billa, one of the main accused in the abduction and murder case of Dr Warda Mushtaq, paving the way for further proceedings before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC).

Dr Warda Mushtaq, a medical officer at Abbottabad’s DHQ Hospital, went missing on December 4, 2025, after leaving the hospital with her friend Rida Waheed. According to the police investigation, the case involved a dispute over 67 tolas of gold jewellery.

Her body was recovered on December 8, 2025, from the Lari Banota forest area near Thandiani after a search operation. A post-mortem examination was conducted and the body was handed over to her family.

The case was initially registered at Cantonment Police Station, Abbottabad, under kidnapping-related provisions. Following confirmation of Dr Warda’s death, Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code was added to the FIR along with other relevant provisions and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Police arrested several suspects, including Rida Waheed, Nadeem Zeb and Pervez, while Shamrez was identified by police as an alleged main accused. Waheed Ahmad alias Waheed Billa, husband of Rida Waheed, is also among the accused facing proceedings in the case.

In May 2026, the Peshawar High Court upheld the jurisdiction of the Anti-Terrorism Court in the case, observing that kidnapping for ransom under Section 365-A PPC is a scheduled offence triable by an ATC. The court, however, noted that applicability of the terrorism provision would depend on the prosecution establishing the required legal ingredients.

Earlier, in January 2026, the PHC Abbottabad Bench had set aside an ATC order regarding further police remand and directed that the matter be considered under the relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The latest development has raised expectations that the case will now proceed before the ATC on the basis of evidence and law, while the family continues to seek a transparent judicial process and justice for Dr Warda.

Abbottabad: The Peshawar High Court has rejected the bail application of Waheed Ahmad alias Waheed Billa, one of the main accused in the abduction and murder case of Dr Warda Mushtaq, paving the way for further proceedings before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC).

Dr Warda Mushtaq, a medical officer at Abbottabad’s DHQ Hospital, went missing on December 4, 2025, after leaving the hospital with her friend Rida Waheed. According to the police investigation, the case involved a dispute over 67 tolas of gold jewellery.

Her body was recovered on December 8, 2025, from the Lari Banota forest area near Thandiani after a search operation. A post-mortem examination was conducted and the body was handed over to her family.

The case was initially registered at Cantonment Police Station, Abbottabad, under kidnapping-related provisions. Following confirmation of Dr Warda’s death, Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code was added to the FIR along with other relevant provisions and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Police arrested several suspects, including Rida Waheed, Nadeem Zeb and Pervez, while Shamrez was identified by police as an alleged main accused. Waheed Ahmad alias Waheed Billa, husband of Rida Waheed, is also among the accused facing proceedings in the case.

In May 2026, the Peshawar High Court upheld the jurisdiction of the Anti-Terrorism Court in the case, observing that kidnapping for ransom under Section 365-A PPC is a scheduled offence triable by an ATC. The court, however, noted that applicability of the terrorism provision would depend on the prosecution establishing the required legal ingredients.

Earlier, in January 2026, the PHC Abbottabad Bench had set aside an ATC order regarding further police remand and directed that the matter be considered under the relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The latest development has raised expectations that the case will now proceed before the ATC on the basis of evidence and law, while the family continues to seek a transparent judicial process and justice for Dr Warda.