Pakistani television anchor Rabia Ahsan was found shot dead at her residence in Rawalpindi’s Gulshanabad area on Sunday, 8th November. Her husband, Ahsan Tahir Khan, has been taken into police custody in connection with the murder. According to a report by Pakistan-based news outlet Samaa, Khan confessed to killing his wife during initial police questioning.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) shared on social media, the 41-year-old journalist was shot dead in her bedroom at around 3 pm. Her mother and two daughters were in the lawn when the incident took place. After hearing a gunshot, her sister, Alwina, rushed to the bedroom and found Rabia lying on the floor in a pool of blood, while her husband was holding a pistol.
🚨 The FIR for the murder of anchor Rabia Ahsan has been registered on the complaint of her brother; Section 302 (murder) has been invoked in the FIR. https://t.co/I8B3rsjyTq
— Wajiha Tamseel Mirza (@WajihaTamseel) November 8, 2026
Police officers and forensic experts reached the residence and examined the crime scene. During the initial examination, they found a bullet wound below her neck and another injury on the right side of her back. Her body was subsequently taken to a hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Husband claims gunshot was accidental
According to a report by Dawn, a male domestic worker at the residence told police that Khan had claimed the gunshot was fired accidentally. During questioning, Khan told investigators that the pistol went off while he was handling it and that he did not know it was loaded.
The Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) collected evidence from the crime scene and recovered a .30-bore pistol along with ammunition, suspected to be the murder weapon. Khan also failed to produce a valid licence or permit for the firearm during questioning.
Following the incident, a murder case was registered against him under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Further investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death.
Rabia Ahsan, 41, was associated with Pakistan‘s private television channel 92 News, where she worked as an anchorperson and programme host. She also co-hosted a current affairs programme alongside senior journalists Amir Mateen and Rauf Klasra. She was a mother of two daughters, aged 13 and 11.
Pakistan’s First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari also expressed deep sadness over her death and called for an impartial investigation.
The First Lady has expressed deep sadness over the killing of journalist Rabia Ahsan and strongly condemned the violence. She called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. She also expressed dismay over another incident disturbing pattern of killing of another professional woman in the same metropolitan area. Less than three months ago, Hina Javed was killed and the outcome of the investigation into her case is still awaited. Such incidents demand serious attention and accountability. Women must be able to live and work without fear for their lives.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 8, 2026
A statement issued by the Presidency said, “The First Lady has expressed deep sadness over the killing of journalist Rabia Ahsan and strongly condemned the violence. She called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
