Image Source: YOUTUBE/@Rabiya Ahsan Official
After the death of anchor Rabia Ahsan in Rawalpindi, Punjab province of Pakistan, her husband has been taken into police custody for two days. However, Rabia's family has decided to withdraw the murder case registered against her. Whereas earlier it was registered as a murder case on the complaint of Rabia's own brother.
According to the police, the body of Rabia Ahsan was found from her house in Gulshanabad area of Rawalpindi on 8 November. He was shot in the lower part of his neck.
On the complaint of Rabia Ahsan's brother, a case of murder was registered against her husband. According to the police, he was immediately taken into custody. The police had also recovered a pistol from a room in the house.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said in a statement that during the investigation, Rabia Ahsan's husband had told the police that the bullet was fired from the pistol by mistake.
At the same time, the police presented the husband of Rabia Ahsan, who was arrested in this case, in the concerned court on Monday. The police had demanded the court to keep him in custody. The court has approved police custody for two days.
Meanwhile, the Namaz-e-Janaza of Rabia Ahsan was performed at Jamia Masjid Gulshanabad.
What did Rabia Ahsan's brother tell BBC?
Image Source, 92 NEWS/YOUTUBE
Rabia Ahsan's brother Khurram Ahmed is the complainant, although he has now told the BBC that his family has decided to drop the case.
He said he, his mother and sister agreed that Rabia's death was an accident.
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Khurram told that he himself was not present there at the time of the incident. However, his mother and sister were present in the same house.
He said that the person working in the house was also present in that room.
Khurram Ahmed told, "The accused told me that he was taking out clothes from the cupboard. There was a pistol there and he was holding it in his hand. Then suddenly a bullet was fired, which hit Rabia near her neck and she died on the spot."
He said that when he reached there after getting information about the incident, his mother and sister told him, "Before the incident, both the husband and wife had gone to the room. Before that he was with them in the courtyard and no fight was seen between them."
Khurram Ahmed said he knew the accused "very well" and that he was a "respectable person". He told that the accused used to work as Deputy Director in Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
Khurram Ahmed says that the police officers who reached the spot on Sunday had told him that they can withdraw the case whenever they want.
'The husband had a pistol in his hand at the time of the shooting'
Image Source, Social Media
On November 8, on the complaint of Rabia Ahsan's brother Khurram, a case of murder under section 302 was registered at Sadar Beruni police station regarding this incident which took place at their house.
According to the FIR, the complainant was told over the phone that Rabia Ahsan had been shot by her husband.
According to the complainant, "When he reached the spot, his sister was lying soaked in blood and was dead."
On the other hand, some different things related to the incident have come to light in the initial investigation of the police. According to the local police, Rabia Ahsan was married for 14 years and has two daughters.
Police officials said that according to initial information, the family members, daughters, sister and mother have not told about any differences or domestic disputes between the husband and wife.
Police say that initial investigation has revealed that due to change in weather, while keeping winter clothes in the cupboard instead of summer clothes, a 30 bore pistol was found among the clothes.
According to the initial statement of a domestic worker present in the house, the husband had a pistol in his hand at the time of the shooting.
However, the police say that till now no member of the family has given any statement regarding the quarrel or differences between the husband and wife. Despite this, this incident will be investigated as a case of murder and all possible reasons behind it will be looked into.
According to the initial post-mortem report, Rabia Ahsan was shot in the lower part of her neck, due to which she died.
Initially the police had only said that the body of Rabia Ahsan was found in a room of her house in Gulshan-e-Aabad area on Adiala Road. He was shot in the lower part of his neck.
According to the police, the 30 bore pistol found from the spot did not have a license. Forensic evidence and samples related to the incident have been sent to the lab for testing. Further legal action and investigation will be taken after receiving the forensic report.
Police say that all aspects of the incident are being investigated without any bias. The final result will be presented on the basis of forensic investigation, post-mortem report and evidence obtained from the investigation.
Rawalpindi CPO told the media after visiting the spot, "The woman was shot below the neck. She has been identified as Rabia Ahsan. She was a program host of a private TV channel."
'Justice must be given'
41 year old Rabia Ahsan was associated with Channel 92. There she used to host the program 'Muqabil' with journalist Aamir Mateen. According to Channel 92 correspondent Sajid Shaikh, Rabia Ahsan had hosted her program earlier also. She was the mother of two daughters.
Journalist Fariha Idris wrote on social media platform X that she was "deeply shocked and saddened" to hear the news of Rabia Ahsan's death.
He wrote that Rabia was "a capable anchor, companion and mother of two children. She left us too soon."
He wrote, "My full condolences are with his children, family and all his close ones. May Allah give his family the strength to bear this loss. Justice must be given."
"Another day, another woman murdered in her own home," journalist Zeb al-Nisa Burki wrote on X.
Shakir Abbasi wrote on X, "I am deeply saddened to know that our former colleague and anchor Rabia Ahsan is no more."
He said, "This incident is still under investigation."
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
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