TV anchor Rabia Ahsan shot dead in Rawalpindi home, husband held

A television news anchor was found shot dead in her house in the Gulshanabad area of Adiala Road in Rawalpindi, and police have taken her husband into custody, ARY News reported.

The City Police Officer Rawalpindi confirmed that the anchor, Rabia Ahsan, was killed by gunfire and that her husband, Ahsan, was taken into custody after the incident. ARY News described her as an anchor at a private news channel. Journalism Pakistan reported that she was a host on 92 News.

In his initial statement to police, Ahsan said he had not fired the weapon deliberately. "I did not fire the shot intentionally; it went off accidentally," ARY News quoted him as telling investigators.

He also told police that Rabia Ahsan's sister and mother were living in the same house and that they should be questioned about the firing. "You can ask her sister and mother as they are also living in the house," he said, according to ARY News.

Police said they were recording statements from those present and working to establish the circumstances in which the anchor was shot. The husband's account forms part of that inquiry, according to ARY News.

No motive has been made public. ARY News did not report whether a case had been registered, whether any other weapon was recovered from the house, or when the body was found.

Rabia Ahsan's death was reported by ARY News on Sunday, with the City Police Officer named as the officer confirming the husband's detention. The channel did not say how long he had been in custody or whether he had been formally arrested.

The investigation is at the stage of statements, with police giving no finding on whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.