ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: A Pakistani television anchorperson was shot dead at her residence in Rawalpindi, prompting police to detain her husband and launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rabia Ahsan, who worked as an anchor and programme host for a private television channel, was found dead at her home in the Gulshanabad locality on Sunday, according to a report published by Dawn.
City Police Officer Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera confirmed that the victim’s husband had been taken into custody and that the suspected firearm had been recovered. He said investigators were examining the circumstances of the shooting and collecting evidence to establish what had happened.
The police officer, accompanied by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations and SSP Investigations, visited the residence along with forensic specialists to inspect the crime scene.
During the preliminary inquiry, a male domestic worker reportedly informed investigators that Ahsan’s husband had described the gunshot as accidental. Police are examining this claim as part of their investigation.
Teams from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) were deployed to collect scientific evidence from the residence. Meanwhile, the victim’s body was shifted to a hospital for a postmortem examination to determine the precise cause and circumstances of death.
Sukhera said a formal case was being registered and assured that the investigation would proceed impartially and on merit. Authorities are expected to examine forensic findings and other available evidence before reaching any conclusions.
The incident also drew a strong reaction from Pakistan’s First Lady, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, who expressed grief over the killing and condemned the violence against women.
In a statement issued by the Presidency, she called for a comprehensive, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts and ensure accountability for those responsible.
Bhutto-Zardari also raised concerns about what she described as a troubling pattern of killings involving professional women in the Rawalpindi metropolitan area.
Referring to an earlier incident, she recalled the murder of Hina Javed, a 45-year-old digital media executive who was found dead at her Rawalpindi residence in August with alleged signs of torture.
She expressed concern that the investigation into Javed’s death had yet to reach a publicly known conclusion, stressing the importance of ensuring justice in cases involving violence against women.
The latest killing has renewed concerns over the safety of women professionals and the need for effective investigations into violent crimes.
With Ahsan’s husband in police custody and forensic examinations underway, investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events that led to the fatal shooting.
Authorities have not yet announced a final conclusion regarding the circumstances of her death.