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Rabia Ahsan’s funeral prayer was held in Rawalpindi on Monday as police continued investigating the fatal shooting of the television anchorperson at her residence in Gulshanabad. A large number of people, including members of the local community and media fraternity, attended the funeral at Jamia Masjid Gulshanabad on Adiala Road.
The incident has sparked concern within Pakistan’s journalist community, while investigators work to establish the exact circumstances surrounding her death.
Funeral Prayer Held for Rabia Ahsan in Rawalpindi
Rabia Ahsan, a television anchorperson and programme host associated with 92 News, was found dead at her home in the Gulshanabad area of Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Her death prompted an investigation after police received information about a shooting at the residence.
According to police officials, the journalist sustained a gunshot wound below her neck. Her body was recovered from a bedroom at the house, and investigators subsequently secured the crime scene for examination.
Rabia Ahsan had previously co-hosted a current affairs programme alongside senior journalists Amir Mateen and Rauf Klasra.
Her death has drawn attention from journalists, media organisations and members of the public.
Murder Case Registered Under Section 302
Following the incident, police registered a murder case at Sadar Bairuni Police Station on the complaint of Rabia Ahsan’s brother, Khurram.
The FIR was registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with murder, along with relevant provisions of the Punjab Arms Amendment Ordinance.
According to the complainant, he received a telephone call informing him that his sister had been shot at her residence.
He rushed to the house and found Rabia lying in a pool of blood. She had already died by the time he arrived.
Police subsequently took her husband, Ahsan Tahir, into custody for questioning in connection with the incident.
What the FIR Says About the Incident
The FIR contains the complainant’s allegations regarding the circumstances surrounding his sister’s death.
According to the initial account, Rabia’s sister informed the family about the shooting after hearing gunfire inside the house.
The victim’s mother and sister were reportedly present at the residence when the incident occurred.
Police have questioned individuals present at the house to establish what happened before and after the gunshot was fired.
Investigators are also examining the statements recorded from family members and domestic staff.
Police Examine Accidental Shooting Claim
One of the significant aspects of the investigation concerns the possibility that the firearm discharged accidentally.
According to the preliminary account provided by a domestic worker, the couple was handling seasonal clothing, moving summer garments into storage and taking out winter clothes when a .30-bore pistol reportedly emerged from among the clothes.
The worker’s initial statement indicated that Ahsan was holding the weapon when it discharged.
The husband also reportedly told investigators during preliminary questioning that the shooting was accidental.
However, police have not established this account as the final explanation for the incident.
Local investigators have stated that family members, including the couple’s daughters, Rabia’s sister and her mother, had not initially identified any serious disagreement or domestic dispute between the couple.
The couple had reportedly been married for approximately 14 years.
Forensic Investigation and Medical Findings
Police have collected evidence from the residence and seized the suspected weapon.
According to initial reports, the pistol appeared to be unlicensed, adding another aspect to the investigation.
Forensic experts from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency visited the scene and collected samples and other relevant evidence for laboratory examination.
Initial post-mortem findings indicated that Rabia had sustained a gunshot wound below the neck, which proved fatal.
Investigators are awaiting forensic findings to help determine the circumstances in which the weapon was discharged.
The examination of physical evidence, firearm details and statements from witnesses is expected to play an important role in establishing the sequence of events.
Investigation Into Rabia Ahsan’s Death Continues
Police have maintained that the investigation will cover all possible aspects of the incident, including the possibility of deliberate killing and the claim of accidental firing.
The registration of a murder case and the husband’s detention are part of the ongoing legal process and do not, by themselves, establish guilt.
Investigators are expected to assess the available evidence before reaching conclusions about responsibility and motive.
The case has also renewed public attention on the safety of women and the importance of transparent investigations into deaths occurring inside domestic settings.
For now, the precise circumstances surrounding Rabia Ahsan’s death remain under investigation.
Police have said that further action will depend on the findings of the forensic examination and the statements recorded during the inquiry.See More on Pulse Pakistan
