Hina Javed case: Post-mortem reveals multiple injuries, cause of death unclear

ISLAMABAD: The post-mortem report of 45-year-old Hina Javed, who was allegedly murdered, has revealed that her neck bone was fractured and that she had injuries to her ribs.

The post-mortem examination was conducted by Dr Maria Khalid around 12 hours after her death and according to the report, blood had accumulated around Hina’s heart.

The report said DNA samples were collected from the deceased and sent to a laboratory for forensic analysis. It added that the exact cause of death could not initially be determined, with further samples sent to a forensic laboratory to establish the cause. The report stated that Hina had allegedly been hanged by her husband.

Lady Constable Rafia Tabassum received the post-mortem report and the samples collected for forensic examination, according to the report.

Last week, a murder case was registered at the Civil Lines police station on the complaint of the victim’s brother, Fahad Javed. The husband and domestic help were sent on physical remand following the the court’s order.

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari calls for transparent investigation

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari on Sunday called for a transparent investigation into the alleged murder, urging that all those responsible be held accountable. In a post on the President of Pakistan’s X account, she offered condolences to Hina’s family and stressed the need for stronger measures to protect women, citing a reported rise in such incidents.

Hina’s body was found in the bathroom of an apartment in Rawalpindi’s Lal Kurti area on Thursday morning, with her hands tied behind her back. Police have taken her husband, Faisal Asghar, and a domestic worker, Zeeshan, into custody, while her father-in-law, Asghar Ali Fayyaz, has been named in the FIR filed by her brother, Fahad Javed. Her brother said he was called to the apartment by the father-in-law and found her dead on arrival. Blood was reportedly found on the bathroom floor and coming from her mouth. A post-mortem has been conducted, with the report still awaited.

The FIR alleges Hina faced repeated physical and psychological abuse during her nine-month marriage to Faisal, and that his previous marriage also ended in divorce following domestic violence, allegations yet to be established in court. The family further alleges she may have been forced to consume a poisonous substance and that the killing was made to look like suicide, claims police have not yet confirmed pending forensic results.

Hina’s family says it trusts the judicial process but wants Fayyaz, who remains unarrested, investigated and held accountable, and has called on Punjab police to proceed without delay or influence. They have also urged media and civil society to keep attention on the case, arguing domestic violence should be treated as a serious crime.