Police say probe complete in anchorperson's death

Anchorperson shot dead in bedroom

Rabia Ahsan, a TV anchorperson and programme host, was found shot dead in her bedroom in Gulshan Abad, Rawalpindi. She had sustained a gunshot wound below the neck.

Brother registers murder case

Khuram Ahmed, Rabia's brother, registered an FIR with Sadar Beruni police against her husband Muhammad Ahsan under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 13-2(a) of the Punjab Arms Amendment Ordinance 2015.

How the shooting happened

Khuram was visiting when his other sister, who lived there with their mother, heard a gunshot around two thirty pm. They rushed to the bedroom and found Rabia lying in a pool of blood.

Suspect found holding pistol

When Rabia's sister entered the bedroom, she found Rabia on the floor and the suspect standing nearby holding a pistol. Khuram rushed to the house after receiving an emergency call from his sister.

Weapon was unlicensed

Police recovered the pistol from Muhammad Ahsan. He could not produce a licence for the weapon, which he had purchased from Hayatabad. The pistol was loaded when he allegedly pointed it at his wife.

No close-range firing marks

According to police examination of Rabia's body, the shot had not been fired from close range. There were no blackening marks on her neck, suggesting distance between the weapon and the victim.

Couple married sixteen years

Rabia and Muhammad Ahsan had been married for sixteen years and had two daughters together. Police would conduct forensic examination of the couple's mobile phones as part of the investigation.

Brother initially reluctant

According to police sources, Khuram was initially reluctant to register a murder case. However, an FIR was later registered late at night with Sadar Beruni police after the incident was reported.

Police complete investigation

Police arrested the suspect and seized the weapon used in the incident. Senior Superintendent of Police Saifullah said the accused was remanded in police custody for one day.

Suspect claims accidental firing

Muhammad Ahsan stated that he had fired the gun accidentally. Khuram now claims his sister's death was caused by accidental shooting rather than deliberate killing.

Police say withdrawal is court's call

A senior police officer told Dawn that the withdrawal of the murder case has nothing to do with police. Any compromise between the complainant and suspect can only be decided by the trial court.

“The withdrawal of the murder case of anchorperson Rabia Ahsan has nothing to do with the police, as any compromise between the complainant and the suspect can only be decided by the trial court.”

Court to decide on case withdrawal

The officer said police had completed their investigation, arrested the accused, and recovered the weapon. It was now up to the trial court to decide whether to accept any withdrawal request.

Suspect to appear before court

Muhammad Ahsan was to be produced before the court on Tuesday, where police would seek further physical remand to continue their investigation into the shooting death.