Rabia Ahsan, a prominent Pakistani broadcast journalist renowned for boldly addressing political and social issues, tragically lost her life on Sunday, November 8, between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm. The incident occurred at her residence in Gulshanabad, Sector 2, on Adyala Road, Rawalpindi.

While her mother, her sister Alwina, and her two daughters were out in the home garden, a gunshot was heard from the bedroom. Rushing inside, her sister discovered Rabia lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with her husband, Ahsan Tahir, standing nearby holding a pistol.

Key Points

  • Rabia Ahsan was shot dead inside her bedroom on November 8.
  • The suspect, her husband Ahsan Tahir, has been arrested and remanded till November 13.
  • An unlicensed .30-calibre pistol was recovered from the crime scene.
  • The husband told police the firearm discharged accidentally while he was inspecting it.

Unlicensed firearm and police investigation

Police and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) recovered an unlicensed .30-calibre pistol and an empty cartridge casing from the scene. Police records indicate the weapon, purchased from Hayatabad, was not licensed. The bullet, which entered the front area below the neck, was not fired at point-blank range as evidenced by the absence of black burn marks.

Her husband, a Deputy Director at the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), was arrested. Although he claimed to police that the weapon went off accidentally while he was inspecting it or pointing it in jest, Saddar Beruni Police registered charges of murder and illegal possession of a weapon based on a complaint lodged by her brother, Khurram Ahmed. Magistrate Talat Waheed and Senior Civil Judge Muhammad Nasrullah Wattoo extended the suspect's remand until November 13.

“How can I forgive the unjust killing of my sister?”

Khurram Ahmed

Shock and outrage in the media industry

The couple had been married for 16 years and have two daughters aged 13 and 11. Rabia, who hosted the programme 'Muqabil' on 92 News HD for over five years, had worked alongside Amir Mateen and Rauf Klasra, and also served at GTV, HUM News, and Aaj Urdu.

Pakistan's First Lady, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, strongly condemned the killing and called for a transparent investigation. She also recalled the case of Hina Javed, a media executive murdered in Rawalpindi in August.

What lies ahead

The suspect remains in judicial custody until November 13, while further investigations continue through telephone records and forensic reports.