Hina Javed's family weighs legal action

Remains firm on demand for an independent judicial commission

RAWALPINDI:

The family of Hina Javed is considering legal action to challenge the findings of a high-level police investigation committee and the DNA report in court.

Hina, a 45-year-old digital designer, was allegedly tortured and murdered at a residence in Rawalpindi's Lalkurti on August 20.

Family sources said the relatives had completed consultations among themselves and were exploring legal options before the police submit the challan in court.

The family remains firm on its demand for an independent judicial commission to investigate the case. However, if the demand is not accepted, the relatives may approach the court to seek a fresh examination of the samples collected for Hina's forensic analysis by an independent and impartial forensic laboratory, the sources said.

According to the sources, the family has reservations about the existing DNA report and the investigation committee's findings. It wants all available forensic, medical and other material evidence to be reviewed impartially to establish the identities of all those involved in the murder and determine their alleged roles.

The family has completed its internal consultations but will make a final decision on approaching the courts after consulting its lawyers and examining the legal options in detail, the sources added.

Legal experts said forensic reports were not beyond judicial scrutiny under Pakistan's criminal justice system. Where reasonable legal grounds existed, a relevant court could be approached for a fresh analysis of forensic evidence.

However, the possibility of an independent laboratory conducting a fresh examination would depend on the applicable law, the condition of the available samples, the nature of the objections and the court's discretion, they said.

Meanwhile, the victim's family has already written an open letter to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, rejecting the investigation committee's findings and reiterating its demand for a judicial commission.