Hina Javed murder: Domestic worker confesses to crime, police say

Court grants police three-day remand of Hina Javed’s husband and domestic worker

RAWALPINDI:

Rawalpindi police on Thursday claimed that a domestic worker arrested in connection with the murder of 45-year-old digital designer Hina Javed had confessed to the crime and disclosed details of the incident.

Hina was found dead at her in-laws’ home on Aug 20 after her father-in-law reportedly informed police that burglars had entered the house. Police found her body tied to a shower in the bathroom, with her hands bound behind her back.

The circumstances surrounding her death prompted police to register a murder case and arrest her husband, Faisal Asghar, and domestic worker Zeeshan.

Read: Hina Javed murder probe takes new turn

The development came as Duty Judicial Magistrate Rana Shehbaz Khan granted police a further three-day physical remand of the two suspects and directed investigators to complete the investigation and submit a challan on Aug 28.

The suspects were due to be produced before the court again.

According to police, the investigation team had completed DNA and special polygraph tests of both suspects, with the results expected within two to three weeks.

Police said Hina’s father-in-law, retired officer Asghar Fayyaz, had also joined the investigation but had not yet been arrested.

The investigation officer told the court that the suspect was intelligent and was not fully cooperating with the investigation, although progress was continuing.

During the court proceedings, Hina’s husband allegedly pretended to be mentally unwell. The court expressed displeasure and directed him to stand properly in the dock.

Police said he continued the alleged pretence after leaving the courtroom. Both suspects were later taken back to the police station in handcuffs. Police had sought a seven-day physical remand of the suspects.

Hina’s lawyer, former Lahore High Court judge and former attorney general Shah Khawar, told the court that all three suspects had committed a heinous crime.

Also Read: Hina Javed murder: Rawalpindi court extends physical remand of husband, servant

He alleged that Hina had been brutally murdered by her husband in collusion with Zeeshan.

According to details presented before the court, Hina’s hands had been tied behind her back, cloth had been stuffed into her mouth and a wire had been placed around her neck. Her body was found hanging from a shower in the bathroom.

The autopsy report presented to the court showed that the bones in her neck had been completely fractured, along with multiple injuries to her body.

Police have also decided to subject the clothes Hina was wearing at the time of her death to forensic examination. Investigators are seeking technical evidence, including possible fingerprints on the clothing.

The wire placed around her neck, the cloth allegedly stuffed into her mouth and the rope used to tie her hands have also been secured as forensic evidence.

Police sources said the investigation would be completed this week and that both arrested suspects would subsequently be sent to Adiala Jail.

Hina’s family spokesperson and cousin, Shehr Bano, said the family was satisfied with the police investigation but demanded a transparent and impartial probe.

She said those responsible should be punished strictly in accordance with the law.

Khawar told The Express Tribune that he was satisfied with the police investigation, saying investigators were proceeding in the right direction and had obtained technical and forensic evidence professionally.

The murder case

Hina was allegedly killed by her husband in connivance with his father and an employee. A preliminary post-mortem report found a fracture to a neck bone and injuries to Hina's ribs and hip. Samples, including those required for DNA analysis, were sent to a forensic laboratory.

Police said the precise cause of death remained unestablished until the issuance of complete post-mortem and forensic reports.

A special investigation team, headed by Investigation SSP Saifullah, took Hina's husband Asghar and servant Zeeshan to Lahore under tight security earlier on Tuesday. Their samples were submitted to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) for DNA and polygraph examinations.

Hina's father-in-law, who has been included in the investigation, accompanied the team and was questioned before they returned to Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, police sources drew attention to old YouTube lectures by Asghar, who reportedly taught corporate communication at several universities. In one lecture, he asked a student why a husband might shoot his wife and discussed hypothetical scenarios involving marital relationships, infidelity and financial motives.

Read More: Hina murder probe intensifies

According to police sources, domestic worker Zeeshan gave three different statements from the time he was taken into custody until the formal investigation. In his first statement, Zeeshan claimed that Hina Javed was killed according to a plan in collaboration with Faisal Asghar Imam.

In his second statement, he claimed responsibility for the murder. However, during the formal police investigation, Zeeshan allegedly recorded a third statement, saying he had been called during a quarrel between the husband and wife.

According to police sources, domestic worker Zeeshan also revealed that Hina Javed resisted and tried to run away to save her life, after which both men caught her. During her resistance, she was allegedly strangled.

According to police sources, the investigation into Hina Javed's murder is not limited to her husband and domestic worker, and inquiries are being conducted from various angles. Police are also examining whether domestic worker Zeeshan killed Hina Javed after she allegedly saw him stealing money or other items from the house.

According to sources, Zeeshan used to sleep in a portion of the house occupied by Hina Javed and other family members. He had also been accused of stealing Hina Javed's purse, cash and other items from the house.

Police are investigating whether Zeeshan killed Hina Javed out of fear that his alleged theft would be discovered. However, according to police sources, another question being examined is whether, if only one person was involved in the murder, he could have moved the body alone to the bathroom and hung it from the shower.