Police have launched an investigation into the death of 45-year-old Hina Javed, who was found dead inside an apartment in Rawalpindi, with her family alleging that she had suffered repeated physical and psychological abuse during her marriage.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Hina was found dead in the bathroom of a second-floor flat at Askari Apartments in the Lalkurti area of Rawalpindi on Thursday morning.
Her brother, Fahad Javed Malik, told police that the family was alerted after Hina’s father-in-law called early in the morning and asked them to reach the apartment immediately, saying there was an emergency.
Hina found with hands tied, wire around her neck
According to the FIR and the family’s account, Hina was found in the bathroom with both hands tied behind her back, her mouth covered with a cloth and a wire wrapped around her neck.
The family alleges that the wire had been tied to the bathroom shower and that there was blood in her mouth and on the bathroom floor.
Malik has accused Hina’s husband, Faisal Asghar Imam, his father, Asghar Ali Fayyaz, and their domestic worker, Zeeshan Arshad, of being involved in her death.
He also alleged that Hina had been subjected to physical and psychological abuse during her marriage and had previously complained about the alleged violence.
Hina married Faisal Asghar Imam in November 2025. According to her brother, tensions and alleged abuse continued throughout the marriage. The FIR further alleges that Faisal had subjected Hina to repeated physical violence and had also allegedly abused a previous wife.
Malik told police that Hina had filed for divorce because of the alleged abuse.
Family disputes robbery account
Hina’s family says her in-laws initially claimed that the incident was a robbery. However, guards at Askari Villas reportedly told police that there were no apparent signs of a break-in.
According to the family, the explanation later changed, with the in-laws allegedly claiming that Hina had been killed by a domestic worker during an attempted robbery.
The family has questioned this account, pointing out that nothing was taken from Hina and that she was still wearing her gold bangles when she was found.
Police have registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to murder and acts committed by several people in furtherance of a common intention.
Investigators have collected evidence from the apartment, while Hina’s body was shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Domestic worker allegedly confesses
According to Hina’s family, the domestic worker, Zeeshan Arshad, allegedly confessed during questioning to killing Hina with the involvement of her husband.
He reportedly told police that Faisal had paid him Rs 100,000 to carry out the killing and that the murder had been planned four days earlier.
These claims form part of the investigation and have not been independently verified.
Police officials said the investigation was continuing and that no arrests had been made at the time of reporting.
Social media outrage and calls for justice
Hina’s death has triggered an outpouring of anger on social media, with users expressing support for her family and calling for a transparent investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Hina’s brother and academic Shahram Azhar also appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to intervene and help ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
In a social media post, Azhar wrote that Hina had allegedly been “brutally murdered by her husband and in-laws” and said her father-in-law was still at large. He urged the chief minister to help bring those responsible to justice.
Allegations of harassment at NUST
Separately, a social media user alleged that Faisal Asghar Imam had previously worked as a teacher at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and had allegedly harassed female students for more than a decade.
The user, who said she personally knew some of the alleged victims, wrote that Faisal had been their teacher and accused him of a prolonged pattern of harassment.
These allegations have circulated on social media but have not been independently verified. It was also not immediately clear whether any formal complaints had previously been lodged against him in relation to the allegations.
Investigation underway
The circumstances surrounding Hina Javed’s death remain under investigation. Police are examining evidence recovered from the apartment, the post-mortem findings and statements from those involved.
The allegations made by Hina’s family, including claims of domestic abuse, the alleged robbery narrative, and the domestic worker’s reported confession, are expected to form part of the investigation.
As of the time of reporting, police had not announced any arrests, and the allegations against the named individuals had not been established in court.
The case has nevertheless generated significant public concern, with Hina’s family and supporters calling for a transparent investigation and justice for her.