Woman murdered by husband, domestic help in Rawalpindi, father-in-law accused of involvement

ISLAMABAD: A woman was allegedly murdered by her husband in collusion with a domestic servant in Rawalpindi, police said, with the victim’s family accusing her father-in-law of also being involved in the killing.

The incident took place in the Lal Kurti area within the jurisdiction of Civil Line police station, according to police. The body of the victim, identified as Hina Javed, was recovered from the bathroom of her home. Police said Hina had been married to Faisal Asghar nine months ago.

Hina’s husband, Faisal Asghar, and domestic servant Zeeshan have been arrested, police said and a case has been registered at Civil Line police station on the complaint of the victim’s brother.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Hina’s body was found in the bathroom with her hands tied behind her back.

In his statement, the victim’s brother said he received a call from his sister’s father-in-law and rushed to the house, where he found Hina’s body lying in the bathroom. The FIR alleges that the victim was tortured and killed by her husband, father-in-law and the domestic servant, and states that she is suspected to have been made to consume a poisonous substance before being killed. The accused allegedly attempted to portray the murder as a suicide, the brother alleged.

The FIR further states that Hina’s husband had subjected her to abuse in the past as well. It adds that this was Faisal Asghar’s second marriage, and that his first wife had also divorced him citing domestic violence and abuse.

Police said Hina’s post-mortem examination has been conducted and the report is awaited. All evidence has been collected from the scene, and investigation into all aspects of the case is under way, police added.

In an official statement released on August 21, two days after the murder, Hina’s grieving family remembered her as a young woman with a promising future while affirming their trust in Pakistan’s legal system. While her husband has already been named as the primary accused, the family stressed that true justice can only be served if every individual who facilitated or participated in her death is held strictly accountable under the law.

The family raised grave concerns that Hina’s father-in-law, Asghar Ali, whom they believe was complicit in the murder, remains at large despite being named in the FIR. Calling for his immediate arrest and a thorough investigation, they asserted that “partial accountability is no accountability,” and appealed to the Punjab Police and relevant legal authorities to ensure the investigation proceeds with complete transparency, free from external pressure, delays or influence.

Emphasising that domestic violence is a serious crime rather than a private household matter, the family urged the media, civil society and the public to keep close tabs on the case so that it does not fade from public attention. They vowed to pursue all legal avenues until complete justice is served, and requested continued solidarity and prayers from the public. Fahd Javed, Sabah Malik and Shahram Azhar have been named as the family’s designated representatives for official inquiries.

There was an outpour of grief and anger on social media following the news of Hina’s demise as people called for swift justice: