Punjab forms panel to review Hina Javed murder probe ahead of Sept 30 hearing

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has formed a high-powered committee to conduct a fresh review of the investigation into the murder of Hina Javed, sources said, as the case heads into its next court hearing on September 30 amid the family’s allegations that evidence in the case has been tampered with.

Committee formed by CM Maryam Nawaz

The committee was constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and will be headed by DG Counter-Terrorism Department Sohail Zafar Chattha, sources said. Lahore DIG Shoaib Khurram and Rawalpindi SSP Investigation Saifullah, who has headed the original seven-member police investigation team, are also part of the committee.

The panel will visit Rawalpindi this week to inspect the crime scene and review the investigation carried out so far, sources said, and has contacted Hina Javed’s family. Rawalpindi police have separately received forensic reports related to samples collected in the case, including the final post-mortem report, according to sources.

The case so far

Hina Javed, 45, was found dead on August 20 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, Zeeshan Arshad. 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 for further examination.

On August 23, a Rawalpindi duty magistrate granted police three-day physical remand of Asghar and Zeeshan. On August 26, the court extended the remand by another three days after police sought additional custody. During the investigation, the two suspects were taken to Lahore for DNA and polygraph examinations. Police officials alleged 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 said doctors had found a broken hyoid bone and marks of torture.

On September 3, police told the court that further physical custody of the suspects was no longer required, and the court sent both to Adiala 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 alleges evidence tampering

The investigation later came under scrutiny from Hina’s family. According to Dawn, in a letter dated September 10, Fahad Javed approached the National Commission for Human Rights, alleging the investigation had not been conducted impartially. The family also wrote to the parliamentary caucus committee raising similar concerns.

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. These allegations, reported on September 13, remain claims made by the family and have not been established by a court.

Hearing adjourned over lawyer’s status

The case’s most recent hearing, on September 21, was adjourned until September 30 amid uncertainty over which lawyer would represent Zeeshan. Additional Sessions Judge Naseer Ahmed directed the jail administration to ask Zeeshan which of two lawyers who had submitted powers of attorney, Advocate Junaid Hassan and Hamza Abbasi, he wanted to represent him. Shah Khawar, counsel for complainant Fahad Javed, submitted his vakalatnama before the court at the same hearing.