No signs of marital rift in Rabia murder case

Police complete polygraph, mobile phone forensic examinations

RAWALPINDI:

Ahsan Tahir, the husband of anchorperson and journalist Rabia Ahsan, who was arrested in connection with her mysterious murder, will be produced before Senior Civil Judge Muhammad Nasrullah Wattoo again on Saturday, after completion of his five-day physical remand.

The suspect's polygraph forensic test has been completed, while forensic examinations of all three mobile phones belonging to the arrested suspect and his deceased wife have also been concluded.

The investigation team said the results of the polygraph test would be received within 24 hours. Sources in the investigation team told The Express Tribune that examinations of the polygraph test and the three mobile phones of the suspect and the deceased had revealed no evidence of quarrels or disputes between the couple.

Their chat conversations on the mobile phones were also found to be courteous.

The suspect reportedly answered the questions calmly during the polygraph test. The post-mortem report also matches the statement he gave to investigators regarding the killing.

However, an important question remains unresolved: whether the pistol handed over by the suspect to the investigation team as the murder weapon was actually the same weapon used in the crime.

A final opinion will be formed after receipt of the forensic report. The pistol examination will also establish whether one or more bullets were fired from the weapon.

The investigation team will again seek a three-day physical remand of the suspect today.

Meanwhile, police have completed their investigation into questions raised by senior journalists on social media regarding alleged strained relations between the anchorwoman and her husband.

Investigators have also discovered that Rubaiya and suspect Ahsan had once had an argument at a salon in Islamabad.

According to information obtained from police sources, Ahsan, who is in custody in connection with Rubaiya's murder, was informed that some senior journalists were expressing concerns on social media that relations between the couple had deteriorated and that an incident at the salon might have triggered differences between them.

Police sources said Ahsan gave a detailed response, explaining that he had married Rubaiya in 2010 when both were colleagues at a private bank. The two had married by choice.