ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari on Sunday expressed deep concern over the suspected murder of a woman in Rawalpindi, urging the Punjab government to carry out a thorough inquiry into her death.
Hina Javed, a 45-year-old woman, was found dead on Thursday morning in the bathroom of a second-floor flat in Rawalpindi, a police complaint seen by Arab News said.
Her family has accused Javed’s husband, Faisal Asghar Imam, his domestic worker Zeeshan Arshad and Imam’s father Asghar Ali Fayyaz of involvement in her death. Javed’s brother told police they found her dead with both of her hands tied behind her back with a piece of cloth, while her mouth was gagged. He also said a wire wrapped around her neck was tied to the bath shower.
Rawalpindi police confirmed on Saturday that Imam and Arshad had been taken into custody for investigation. Meanwhile, Javed’s body was taken to Benazir Bhutto Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
“First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has expressed deep concern and sorrow over the reported brutal murder of Hina Javed in Rawalpindi and conveyed her solidarity and condolences to the bereaved family,” a statement from the President’s Office said.
The first lady expressed concern over the rise in such incidents and hoped effective measures would be taken to protect women and prevent such crimes from occurring in the future.
“She called upon the Government of Punjab to ensure a thorough inquiry and proper investigation into the heinous crime,” the statement said.
The first lady said that those responsible for the suspected murder must be brought to justice and be made an example so that others would not dare to commit such acts.
Imam married Javed in November 2025. Fahad Javed Malik, the victim’s brother, told Arab News that his sister had complained of abuse before her death.
Malik said his late sister worked for a semi-government organization while her husband had at times been unemployed.
In the police complaint, Malik accused Imam of routinely subjecting his sister to severe physical and psychological abuse and alleged that Imam had also abused his previous wife. He alleged that woman was forced to seek a divorce from him as he subjected her to severe torture.
Violence against women remains widespread in Pakistan and is not confined to poorer or less educated households.
One of the country’s most prominent cases was the 2021 murder of Noor Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, at an upscale Islamabad home.
Zahir Jaffer, the man convicted of killing her, came from a wealthy and influential business family. The ghastly murder and several other subsequent cases later have alarmed rights activist and shed the spotlight on violent attacks that women in Pakistan are subjected to.
