The family of Hina Javed, whose death in Rawalpindi is being investigated as a murder, has asked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to form a judicial commission. The relatives have rejected the findings of a police investigation committee. In a letter to the chief minister, they called for an impartial inquiry, while Nawaz said the investigation had not been completed and pledged that justice would be done.
Hina, 45, was found dead in the bathroom of her home in the Lal Kurti area of Rawalpindi on August 21. A case was registered at the Civil Lines police station after her brother filed a complaint, alleging that she had suffered violence before she died. According to the post-mortem report, her neck bone was fractured, her ribs and hip were injured, and there was blood around the heart.
Arrests and claims over the domestic worker
Police later arrested her husband, Faisal Asghar, and a domestic worker, Zeeshan Arshad, in connection with the case. Hina’s father-in-law was also named in the investigation. Zeeshan’s family, however, later accused police of trying to make him the prime suspect.
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The family of Hina said in its letter that it did not accept the committee’s conclusions and no longer trusted its methods. It added that it had made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the chief minister directly, and had raised its concerns through various forums and government representatives.
Family questions forensic handling and police conduct
The family raised questions about forensic evidence, claiming that DNA belonging to Faisal and his father was found on Hina’s neck. It also said her father-in-law had first reported a theft at the house. The letter noted that forensic reports on the mobile phones of Hina and the suspects were still pending, and alleged that important messages had been deleted from her phone.
The family also asked why the investigation had focused on the domestic worker before forensic and fingerprint results were available. While acknowledging that the domestic employee was involved in the murder, it alleged that evidence concerning Faisal was being overlooked. It further argued that the committee should not declare anyone guilty or innocent before the case reached court, calling the arrangement a possible conflict of interest because the same department was both investigating and drawing conclusions.
In its letter, the family made several requests to the chief minister:
- Review the case file in detail
- Establish a judicial commission to ensure an impartial investigation
- Deny protection to the suspects
- Ensure justice is delivered in accordance with the law
Chief minister says probe still under way
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the investigation into Hina’s murder was still under way and had not been completed. She assured the family that no effort would be spared to ensure justice. She also said she would meet the bereaved family personally.
