Rabia Ahsan murder: husband denies marital problemsPakistan

A technical analysis of the couple’s mobile phones has reportedly found no evidence of discord or tensions between them, the sources said. The phone records are part of the evidence being examined by the investigators.

The sources confirmed, however, that Rabia and Ahsan had an argument over an issue involving a beauty salon run by Rabia. The suspect has also given investigators his own account of that dispute.

In his statement, Ahsan reportedly told investigators that he and Rabia married in 2010. They initially worked together at a private bank, beginning their married life as colleagues in the same organisation.

Ahsan said he later joined a mobile telecommunications company, while Rabia also secured a job at the British High Commission. Both went on to build their own careers in different fields.

Ahsan said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rabia decided to open her own beauty salon, and he supported her in running the business. The salon became a new chapter in her professional life, and her husband said he stood by her in the venture.

Explaining the disagreement, Ahsan claimed that tensions arose between the couple following a dispute involving two female staffers of the salon. According to his account, one employee had falsely accused the other of having an inappropriate relationship in an attempt to get her dismissed.

Ahsan told investigators that he denied the allegation to his wife and managed to resolve the misunderstanding after convincing her of his position. He further claimed that the incident was the only major disagreement during their 16 years of marriage.

He also said they regularly went to the gym together in the evenings to play badminton, describing a routine the couple shared. Describing Rabia, the suspect called her a hardworking professional who had built her career through her own efforts.

Rabia Ahsan, 41, a television anchor associated with 92 News, was found dead at her home in Gulshanabad, Rawalpindi, on Sunday, 8 November, with a gunshot wound. Her brother, Khurram Ahmed, lodged the murder case at the Saddar Bairuni police station, and her husband was taken into custody. A 30-bore pistol was recovered from the house, and police said the weapon appeared to be unlicensed.

The husband has told investigators that the pistol went off accidentally, a claim the police are testing against the forensic evidence. A Rawalpindi court has granted police physical remand of the suspect, and investigators have also sought forensic tests as the inquiry continues.

Police officials said the suspect’s statements, mobile phone records and other evidence were being examined through forensic analysis and legal procedures as investigators work to complete the case. The investigation has not yet reached a conclusion, and the question of whether the death was accidental or deliberate remains before the investigators and the courts.