First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has voiced serious concern over the suspected murder of 45-year-old Hina Javed in Rawalpindi, urging a comprehensive and transparent investigation to ensure those responsible face justice. She extended her condolences and solidarity to Hina’s grieving family, emphasizing the need for a full inquiry into the tragic circumstances.
In a statement shared on the President of Pakistan’s X account, Aseefa called for accountability and stressed that perpetrators should be made examples of to deter future crimes. She also highlighted the troubling rise in such incidents and underscored the importance of implementing effective measures to protect women and prevent similar tragedies.
The case emerged after Hina’s body was discovered in the bathroom of an apartment in Rawalpindi’s Lal Kurti area on Thursday morning. Police have detained her husband, Faisal Asghar, and a domestic worker named Zeeshan for questioning. Additionally, Hina’s father-in-law, Asghar Ali Fayyaz, has been named in the FIR, with the family demanding his immediate arrest and a thorough investigation into his alleged involvement.
The FIR, filed at the Civil Lines Police Station by Hina’s brother, Fahad Javed, states that Hina was found dead with her hands tied behind her back, a cloth covering her mouth, and a wire attached to the bathroom shower wrapped around her neck. Blood was reportedly present on the bathroom floor and coming from her mouth. Fahad recounted receiving a call from the father-in-law about an emergency, leading the family to discover Hina’s body.
Authorities are treating the case as a murder and have conducted a post-mortem examination, with the report still awaited. Evidence has been collected from the scene as the investigation continues.
The FIR also includes allegations that Hina endured repeated physical and psychological abuse since marrying Faisal Asghar approximately nine months ago. Her brother accused Faisal of ongoing harassment and violence, noting that Faisal’s previous marriage ended in divorce amid similar domestic abuse claims. These allegations remain to be proven in court.
Furthermore, the family suspects that Hina may have been forced to ingest poison and that attempts were made to disguise the murder as suicide. Police are yet to confirm these claims pending forensic and post-mortem results. Meanwhile, Faisal and the domestic worker remain in custody as investigators probe their roles, while the father-in-law remains a focal point of family concern.
Hina’s family has expressed trust in the judicial system but insists on full accountability for everyone involved in her death. They have urged Punjab police and other authorities to conduct the investigation with transparency and without undue influence or delay. The family also called on media and civil society to maintain focus on the case, emphasizing that domestic violence must be addressed as a serious crime rather than a private issue.
The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and demands for justice on social media, with numerous public figures highlighting the case.
Rawalpindi police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing from all perspectives, awaiting forensic and post-mortem findings to clarify the exact cause of death. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, and evidence from the apartment is under scrutiny as suspects are questioned.
This tragic event once again brings attention to the urgent need for effective legal protection and timely intervention in cases of violence against women in Pakistan.
