(Dunya News) - The family of Hina Javed, a digital media executive found dead at her residence in Rawalpindi, has urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to form a judicial commission to investigate the case, expressing dissatisfaction with the findings of a police investigation committee.
In a letter to the chief minister, the family called for an impartial and transparent probe, raising concerns over the handling of forensic evidence and the alleged deletion of important messages from Hina’s mobile phone.
Maryam Nawaz said the investigation had not yet been completed and assured the family that all efforts would be made to ensure justice.
Hina, 45, was found dead in the bathroom of her home in Rawalpindi’s Lal Kurti area on August 21. A murder case was registered at Civil Lines police station on the complaint of her brother, who alleged that she had been subjected to violence before her death.
According to the post-mortem report, Hina had a fracture in her neck bone, injuries to her ribs and hip, and blood around her heart.
Police subsequently arrested her husband, Faisal Asghar, and domestic worker Zeeshan Arshad in connection with the case. Hina’s father-in-law was also named during the investigation.
Zeeshan’s family later accused the police of attempting to portray him as the prime suspect.
In their letter, Hina’s family said it did not accept the police committee’s findings and had lost confidence in its investigative approach. The family added that repeated attempts to contact the chief minister directly had been unsuccessful, prompting it to raise its concerns through other forums and government representatives.
The family questioned the handling of forensic evidence, claiming that DNA belonging to Faisal and his father had been found on Hina’s neck. It also pointed out that Hina’s father-in-law had initially reported a theft at the house.
The letter stated that forensic reports relating to the mobile phones of Hina and the suspects were still awaited. The family alleged that significant messages had been deleted from Hina’s phone and questioned why suspicion had shifted towards the domestic worker before forensic reports and fingerprint findings became available.
While acknowledging the domestic worker’s alleged involvement in the murder, the family maintained that evidence relating to Faisal was being overlooked.
It also argued that the police committee should not determine anyone’s guilt or innocence before the case was decided by a court. The family described the arrangement as a potential conflict of interest, as the same department was investigating the case and drawing conclusions about it.
The family urged Maryam Nawaz to examine the case file and establish a judicial commission to ensure an independent investigation. It also called for all suspects to be treated in accordance with the law and for justice to be served.
The chief minister, meanwhile, reiterated that the investigation remained incomplete. She assured Hina’s family that no effort would be spared to deliver justice and said she would meet them personally.