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.

Dr Warda Mushtaq, a medical officer at Abbottabad DHQ Hospital, went missing on Dec 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 Dec 8, 2025, from the Lari Banota forest area near Thandiani after a search operation.

Cantonment police station registered the case 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. Shamrez was declared the main accused. Waheed Ahmad, Rida Waheed’s husband, is also among the accused facing proceedings in the case.

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

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2026