Rabia Ahsan Case: Polygraph Done, No Sign of Marital Rift

Police have completed the polygraph test and the forensic examination of three mobile phones in the Rabia Ahsan case, finding no evidence of a quarrel or dispute between the anchorperson and her husband. Ahsan Tahir will be produced before a Rawalpindi court again on Saturday after completing five days in police custody, and investigators will seek three more days of remand.

The suspect’s polygraph test has been completed, and forensic examinations of all three mobile phones belonging to Ahsan and his late wife have also concluded. The investigation team said the results of the polygraph test would be received within 24 hours.

What the Rabia Ahsan case forensics found

Sources in the investigation team told The Express Tribune that the polygraph test and the examination of the three mobile phones revealed no evidence of quarrels or disputes between the couple. Their chat conversations on the 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 about the killing.

The pistol question remains open

One 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 the forensic report arrives. The pistol examination will also establish whether one or more bullets were fired from the weapon.

The salon argument and the marriage

Police have also completed their investigation into questions raised by senior journalists on social media about alleged strained relations between the anchorwoman and her husband. Investigators discovered that Rabia and Ahsan had once had an argument at a salon in Islamabad.

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

How the case reached this point

Rabia Ahsan, 41, an anchorperson with 92 News, was found shot dead at her home in Rawalpindi’s Gulshanabad area on Sunday, November 8. Her husband was taken into custody the same day.

A Rawalpindi court granted police a one-day physical remand on November 9. The following day, Senior Civil Judge Muhammad Nasrullah Wattoo extended the remand by four days after police sought seven days, and directed the investigating officer to produce the suspect on November 14 and complete the investigation. The polygraph test was carried out at the Punjab Forensic Science Agency in Lahore on Wednesday, November 11.

The case was registered at Saddar Bairuni Police Station on the complaint of Rabia’s brother, Khurram Ahmed, who accused Ahsan of shooting his sister at their home in Gulshanabad Sector II, on Adiala Road. According to the first information report, Rabia’s mother and sister were in the lawn at around 2:30pm when they heard a gunshot from the bedroom. Her sister rushed inside and found Rabia lying on the floor, while Ahsan was holding a pistol.

The report stated that Ahsan told police he had fired at his wife with the same weapon. Police said he had failed to produce a licence or permit for the pistol. The case was registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 13(2)(a) of the Punjab Arms Amendment Ordinance.

Ahsan has told investigators the shooting was accidental. According to police sources, he said he and Rabia had been taking winter clothes for themselves and their children out of a cupboard at their Gulshanabad home when a pistol fell out of the clothes and discharged. He has said there was no premeditation, and that his daughters were present at home and could corroborate his account. He voluntarily handed over the pistol to police.

Reports that the family intended to withdraw the case were dismissed by Khurram Ahmed, who said no such decision had been taken.

Rabia was survived by two daughters and also ran a private salon in Islamabad. Ahsan was a grade-18 officer at the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, according to police sources.

Frequently asked questions

What did the forensic tests find in the Rabia Ahsan case?

The completed polygraph test and the forensic examination of three mobile phones found no evidence of quarrels or disputes between Rabia Ahsan and her husband. Their chat conversations were courteous, and the post-mortem report matches Ahsan’s statement.

What happens in court on Saturday?

Ahsan Tahir will be produced before Senior Civil Judge Muhammad Nasrullah Wattoo again on Saturday after completing five days in police custody. The investigation team will seek three more days of physical remand.

What is still unresolved?

Whether the pistol handed over by the suspect was actually the weapon used in the crime. The forensic report will settle that, and will also establish whether one or more bullets were fired.

What does the FIR say?

The FIR, registered at Saddar Bairuni Police Station on the complaint of Rabia’s brother Khurram Ahmed, says her mother and sister heard a gunshot from the bedroom at around 2:30pm. Her sister found Rabia lying on the floor while Ahsan held a pistol. Ahsan told police he had fired at his wife.

Who was Rabia Ahsan?

Rabia Ahsan was a 41-year-old anchorperson with 92 News who co-hosted the current affairs programme Muqabil. She was survived by two daughters and also ran a private salon in Islamabad.