RAWALPINDI – Pakistani TV anchorperson Rabia Ahsan was shot dead, with his husband under custody while her brother, Khurram Ahmed denied reports that the family had decided to withdraw the murder case against her husband, Ahsan Tahir.
Khurram rejected media reports, insisting that the family had made no such announcement and was still struggling to understand how Rabia lost her life. “Our sister has been murdered. How can I forgive her unjust killing?” he questioned, demanding that police establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal gunshot.
The latest statement comes amid conflicting reports about the family’s position on the case. Several media outlets reported on Monday, November 9, that Khurram had decided to withdraw the complaint, describing the shooting as an accident rather than an intentional killing.
He rejected the reports and maintained that no final decision had been made. Khurram said his sister and brother-in-law had been living happily together and that the family was unaware of any serious domestic dispute.
He stressed that determining whether the shooting was accidental or deliberate was the responsibility of investigators. “Police should tell us what actually happened with our brother-in-law. If our sister was unjustly killed, the case must proceed,” he said.
Rabia Ahsan, 41, was the mother of two daughters, reportedly aged 11 and 13. Her sudden death has devastated the family, with Khurram revealing that their mother remains deeply traumatised. He said he had not been able to meet his mother since the tragedy.
Khurram explained that he was travelling when he received a telephone call from home informing him that his sister had been shot. The news left the family in disbelief, particularly because Rabia and her husband had reportedly enjoyed a happy marriage for approximately 14 years.
The fatal shooting occurred on Sunday, November 8, at Rabia’s residence in Sector 2, Gulshanabad, along Adiala Road in Rawalpindi. According to initial accounts, a gunshot was heard from the bedroom at approximately 2:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Rabia’s mother and sister, Alwina, were reportedly sitting in the lawn when the shot rang out. Alwina rushed inside and allegedly discovered Rabia lying in a pool of blood, while her husband was holding a pistol. Khurram said the family’s domestic worker had informed police that the gunshot was fired inside the bedroom.
The worker was initially taken into custody for questioning but was subsequently released. “We do not even properly know what happened. How can we believe that our sister is no longer in this world?” Khurram said while describing the family’s grief.
Rabia’s husband, Ahsan Tahir, a Grade-18 officer at the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), was arrested following the incident. During preliminary questioning, he reportedly claimed that the firearm discharged accidentally while he was handling it inside the bedroom.
Police recovered a .30-bore pistol suspected to have been used in the shooting. The accused reportedly failed to produce a valid firearm licence.
A murder case was registered at Saddar Bairooni Police Station under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with relevant firearms provisions, following a complaint filed by Rabia’s brother.
Ahsan was presented before a court on November 9, where police obtained physical remand for further interrogation. Reports differed over whether the remand was granted for one or two days.
Senior Rawalpindi police officials, including City Police Officer Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera, visited the crime scene, while forensic teams collected evidence. Rabia’s body was shifted for a postmortem examination to determine the circumstances of her death. The case has also sparked grief and concern across Pakistan’s media industry.
Rabia, who was associated with 92 News, had previously worked alongside prominent journalists Amir Mateen and Rauf Klasra. She also operated a private beauty salon in Islamabad. Her funeral prayers were offered in Rawalpindi on Monday.
TV Anchor Rabia Ahsan Shot Dead Hours After Her Last Show; Husband in custody
