A prominent Pakistani television anchor was shot and killed inside her home over the weekend, just hours after posting her final video online.
Rabia Ahsan, a 41-year-old program host and news anchor for the Urdu-language network 92 News, died from a gunshot wound on Sunday afternoon in Rawalpindi. Her body was discovered on her bedroom floor by her sister, who rushed inside after hearing a gunshot while gardening with their mother.
Ahsan’s husband, Ahsan Tahir Khan, was found in the room holding the firearm and was immediately taken into custody. Khan, a deputy director at the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, claimed that the unlicensed pistol discharged accidentally while he was handling it.
Police have recovered the weapon and launched a full murder investigation, and a court has remanded the suspect into custody.
The sudden death of the mother of two has sparked widespread shock and grief across Pakistan. Only hours before the shooting, Ahsan had uploaded a video to her YouTube channel discussing the results of the United States midterm elections.
The tragedy has also drawn strong political condemnation, with First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari issuing a statement calling for a transparent investigation and demanding greater safety and protection for working women throughout the country.
News Edit KV Raman
