Pakistani TV anchor Rabia Ahsan shot dead at home; husband booked for murder

A television anchor's death inside her own bedroom has turned into a murder investigation in Pakistan's Rawalpindi, with police naming her husband as the accused and registering a case under the country's murder laws.

Rabia Ahsan, a television anchor and programme host associated with a private Pakistani news channel, was found shot dead at her residence in the Gulshanabad area on Sunday, November 8.

Her husband, Ahsan Tahir, has been arrested, while investigators have seized a pistol and ammunition from the house as they piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The case was registered at Sadar Baironi police station under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with murder.

Rabia's brother, Khurram Ahmed, lodged the FIR and named her husband as the accused.

What happened inside Rabia Ahsan's house?

According to details emerging from the FIR, the shooting took place in Rabia's bedroom at around 3 pm on Sunday. Her mother and sister were reportedly in the lawn when they heard a gunshot.

Her sister allegedly rushed towards the bedroom to investigate and found Rabia lying in a pool of blood. Her husband was reportedly present in the room, holding a pistol.

The account has become a crucial part of the police investigation as officers attempt to establish what transpired inside the house before and after the fatal shot was fired.

In the initial account given to investigators, a male domestic worker reportedly said that Ahsan Tahir had described the gunshot as accidental.

However, subsequent details reported from the FIR indicate that the husband acknowledged firing the weapon. Police are yet to establish the precise circumstances or motive behind the shooting.

Pistol recovered, forensic examination underway

Investigators have recovered a .30-bore pistol along with ammunition from the residence. Police reportedly said that the accused could not produce a valid licence or permit for the firearm.

Police have also invoked provisions under the Punjab Arms Amendment Ordinance in connection with the case.

Senior police officers, including the SSP Operations and SSP Investigations, visited the residence as part of the probe.

Forensic experts from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) were also deployed to examine the crime scene and collect evidence.

Rabia's body was shifted to a hospital for a post-mortem examination. The forensic findings are expected to assist investigators in establishing the circumstances of her death.

While the registration of the murder case marks a significant development, the investigation is continuing to establish the sequence of events and determine the motive.

Pakistan's First Lady calls for transparent investigation

The killing has also drawn a response from Pakistan's First Lady, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, who expressed grief over Rabia's death and strongly condemned the incident.

Calling for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation, she stressed the need to establish the facts and ensure accountability for those responsible.

Aseefa also drew attention to the death of Hina Javed, a digital media executive who was found dead at her residence in Rawalpindi in August.

The reference has brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding the safety of professional women in the country.

With Rabia's husband in police custody and forensic examination underway, investigators now face the task of establishing what happened in the bedroom where the television anchor lost her life.