Hina Javed murder case hearing adjourned as accused’s lawyer remains undecided

ISLAMABAD: A court on Monday adjourned the hearing of the Hina Javed murder case until September 30 as uncertainty over the lawyer representing nominated accused Zeeshan Arshad delayed further proceedings, more than a month after the digital media executive was found dead at her Rawalpindi residence.

Additional Sessions Judge Naseer Ahmed heard the case and directed the jail administration to ask Zeeshan which of the two lawyers who have submitted powers of attorney in court, Advocate Junaid Hassan and Hamza Abbasi, he wanted to represent him.

Meanwhile, Shah Khawar, counsel for complainant Fahad Javed, submitted his vakalatnama before the court. The judge subsequently adjourned the proceedings until September 30.

Hina Javed found dead on August 20

The case began on August 20 when 45-year-old Hina Javed was found dead in the bathroom of her apartment in Rawalpindi’s Askari Apartments. Police said her body bore signs of torture and had a wire around the neck, with the body found partially hanging from a shower rod.

Her brother, Fahad Javed, registered an FIR at Civil Lines police station under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, alleging that Hina had been murdered by her husband, Faisal Asghar, her father-in-law and their domestic worker.

An initial postmortem found a strangulation mark around her neck, an injury below her right lip and bleeding. Samples were sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) for further examination.

Husband, domestic worker taken into custody

On August 23, a Rawalpindi duty magistrate granted police three-day physical remand of Asghar and domestic worker Zeeshan for further investigation.

Police also questioned Hina’s father-in-law and formed a seven-member investigation team headed by Rawalpindi SSP Investigation Saifullah. Investigators seized the mobile phones of Hina and three family members as part of the probe.

Police allege suicide scene was staged

On August 26, the court extended the physical remand of the two suspects by another three days after police sought additional custody.

During the investigation, the suspects were taken to Lahore for DNA and polygraph examinations. Police officials alleged that the investigation indicated Hina’s body had been dragged into the bathroom and her neck tied with wire in an attempt to stage the death as suicide.

Shah Khawar, representing Hina’s family, said investigators were proceeding in the right direction and had collected evidence and conducted forensic examinations. He also said doctors had found a broken hyoid bone and marks of torture.

Suspects sent to jail on judicial remand

On September 3, police told the court that further physical custody of Asghar and Zeeshan was no longer required. The court subsequently sent both suspects to jail on judicial remand.

Police alleged that Asghar killed Hina with Zeeshan’s assistance. According to police sources, Zeeshan told investigators during interrogation that he strangled Hina during an altercation and that the suspects restrained her when she attempted to flee.

These claims remain part of the investigation and have not been established by a court.

Family raises allegations of evidence tampering

The case later came under scrutiny from Hina’s family. According to Dawn, in a letter dated September 10, her brother Fahad Javed approached the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), alleging that the investigation had not been conducted impartially.

The family alleged that evidence had been tampered with and that responsibility for the murder was being shifted from Hina’s husband to the domestic worker. It also alleged that the husband’s brother had interfered in the investigation and influenced the handling of evidence.

The family asked the NCHR to obtain the complete case record and progress report, examine the investigation and ensure a fair and transparent probe free from outside influence.

The allegations were reported on September 13 and remain claims made by Hina’s family; they have not been established by a court.