A popular television news anchor and mother of two was found shot to death inside her bedroom in Pakistan, with her husband now at the center of a murder investigation that has stunned the country’s media community.
Rabia Ahsan, 41, a journalist with Pakistan’s 92 News, died Sunday, November 8, after a gunshot rang out inside her family home in Rawalpindi. Her husband, Ahsan Tahir, was arrested after relatives discovered her body and police recovered a pistol from the scene.
According to a police complaint filed by Ahsan’s brother, Khurram Ahmed, the journalist’s mother and sister were outside the house around 2:30 p.m. when they suddenly heard a gunshot coming from the bedroom.
Her sister rushed inside and made the devastating discovery. Ahsan was lying on the floor with a gunshot wound, while her husband was allegedly standing nearby holding a pistol.
Police and forensic investigators arrived at the home, recovered a .30-caliber handgun and collected evidence. An initial autopsy report indicated that a bullet struck the lower part of the journalist’s neck, causing her death.
But what happened inside that bedroom remains the subject of an investigation.
Tahir, who reportedly works as a deputy director at Pakistan’s Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, has claimed the shooting was accidental.
According to local reports, a domestic worker told investigators that the family had been changing seasonal clothing when a pistol was discovered among the garments. The worker reportedly said Tahir picked up the weapon and handled it before it discharged.
Investigators also determined that the recovered firearm was unlicensed, according to Pakistani media reports.
Despite the accidental shooting claim, Ahsan’s brother initially accused his brother-in-law of killing her, prompting police to register a murder case.
The investigation has since taken another unexpected turn, with conflicting reports emerging over whether the family intends to withdraw the complaint. Authorities have emphasized that any request to withdraw the case would ultimately require a court’s consideration.
On Tuesday, November 10, a Rawalpindi judge extended Tahir’s police custody by four days as investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death.
Police are also reportedly preparing to conduct a lie-detector test amid questions about statements made during the investigation. No determination of guilt has been made.
Ahsan’s death has devastated Pakistan’s journalism community, where she was a recognizable television personality known for her work with 92 News and her previous appearances alongside prominent journalists Amir Mateen and Rauf Klasra.
The tragedy has also left two young daughters, reportedly ages 13 and 11, without their mother.
Pakistan’s First Lady, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, expressed profound sadness over the journalist’s death and called for a thorough, transparent investigation.
The case has renewed concerns about violence against women in Pakistan, particularly after another female media professional, Hina Javed, was found dead at her Rawalpindi home in August.
For now, investigators are working to determine whether Ahsan’s death resulted from a tragic firearm accident or a deliberate act of violence, while her family and colleagues mourn the loss of a journalist whose life ended at just 41.