Rawalpindi, November 8,2026: Anchorperson Rabia Ahsan was found shot dead at her residence in the Gulshanabad area of Rawalpindi on Sunday, with police taking her husband into custody and recovering the suspected weapon.
City Police Officer (CPO) Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera confirmed the incident, saying an investigation had been launched and the victim’s husband had been detained for questioning.
The CPO, accompanied by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, SSP Investigations and a team of forensic experts, visited the crime scene to oversee the investigation.
According to the police statement, a male domestic worker informed investigators that the victim’s husband had claimed the gunshot was fired accidentally.
Sukhera said teams from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) were collecting evidence from the scene, while the body was being shifted to hospital for a postmortem examination.
He said a case was being registered and assured that the investigation would be conducted on merit.
Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari condemns killing
Meanwhile, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari expressed deep sorrow over Rabia Ahsan’s killing and strongly condemned the violence.
In a statement issued by the Presidency, she called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts and ensure that those responsible were held accountable.
She also expressed concern over what she described as a disturbing pattern of violence against professional women in the same metropolitan area.
Referring to the killing of Hina Javed, a 45-year-old digital media executive who was found dead at her Rawalpindi residence in August with signs of torture, Aseefa said such incidents demanded serious attention and accountability.
“Women must be able to live and work without fear for their lives,” she stressed.
The First Lady also noted that the outcome of the investigation into Hina Javed’s murder was still awaited.
According to a DNA analysis report, samples collected from Hina’s domestic servant matched postmortem swabs taken from her body, while her husband’s DNA also matched samples collected from multiple items at the crime scene.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had subsequently stated that DNA and polygraph test results suggested that the murder and rape had been committed by the domestic servant, while emphasising that the investigation was still ongoing.
On October 29, Aseefa had met Hina Javed’s family at Parliament House and called for their demand for a judicial commission to be given due consideration.
The latest incident has renewed calls for effective investigations and accountability in cases involving violence against women.
