Family of slain digital executive urges Punjab chief minister to launch independent probe

The murder of 45-year-old digital media executive Hina Javed in Rawalpindi, marked by extensive bruising and a neck wound, led to the arrest of her husband and a domestic worker, with her father-in-law also questioned. DNA analysis detected a mixture of genetic material from at least three individuals, including the husband, father-in-law and servant, while a Y-STR profile could not exclude any of them as contributors.

The family alleges that the police investigation committee is prematurely assigning guilt to the servant, ignoring evidence that implicates the husband, and accuses the husband of planting evidence. In an open letter to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, they demand the formation of a judicial commission, arguing that one outlet investigative body has a conflict of interest and cannot guarantee justice. The provincial government has already set up a three-member high-powered committee that has inspected the crime scene and questioned the suspects, and the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control will hear senior police officials on Oct 29.