RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif says DNA and polygraph test results suggest that Hina Javed’s murder and sexual assault were committed by the family’s domestic worker, while the investigation remains ongoing.
Maryam made the statement on X on October 24 after journalist Mubashir Zaidi asked her to look into Hina’s case as well.
Why Zaidi Asked Maryam to Look Into the Case
The request followed Maryam’s comments about a separate alleged gang-rape case involving an Azerbaijani woman in Lahore. Maryam had said the family of a suspect allegedly offered the woman Rs15–20 million to withdraw her allegations, and that the judge who granted the suspect bail had also allegedly been bribed. Those claims have not been established in court. The woman later circulated videos saying she wanted to withdraw her allegations and that her earlier statement had been made under pressure; Lahore police said her statement had already been recorded before a magistrate and that the investigation would continue.
Maryam said she would keep a close watch on such cases to ensure people did not evade accountability because of money or influence. Zaidi’s request asked her to extend that attention to Hina’s case, where the victim’s relatives have repeatedly questioned whether the investigation is impartial. It was a public appeal for scrutiny, not an allegation that the two cases were connected.
Maryam had already ordered a government review of Hina’s case in September. The October 24 post therefore came amid continuing disagreement over what the forensic evidence shows and whether the review has addressed the family’s concerns.
How the Case Began
Hina, a 45-year-old digital media executive, was found dead on August 20 at her residence in Rawalpindi’s Lal Kurti area. According to the police account and the complaint filed by her brother, Fahad Javed, her hands were tied behind her back, her mouth was gagged, and a wire was around her neck and attached to a bathroom shower. Police treated the death as a murder.
Fahad’s complaint named Hina’s husband, Faisal Asghar Imam; her 78-year-old father-in-law, Asghar Ali Fayyaz; and domestic worker Zeeshan Arshad, alleging their involvement. Police detained the husband and worker, while the father-in-law was questioned. The complaint’s allegations are not findings of guilt.
The husband and worker were remanded to police custody during the initial investigation and later sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand. In late August, police sources said Zeeshan had confessed to involvement. Investigators subsequently described several differing accounts attributed to him, including claims involving a burglary, an alleged offer from the husband, and later an assertion that he acted alone. These accounts were reported by investigators; they have not been tested at trial.
Why the Family Challenged the Investigation
Hina’s family said it lacked confidence in the Rawalpindi police inquiry and alleged that evidence had been mishandled or tampered with. In a letter to the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the family alleged that the husband’s brother had interfered with the investigation, including by removing items from a room and influencing the handling of evidence. The family asked the NCHR to seek the case record and progress reports and called for an impartial investigation, potentially by a joint investigation team. These are allegations in the family’s letter and have not been independently established.
The family also questioned the handling of a bloodstained bedsheet, alleging it was given to Hina’s father-in-law instead of being secured by police. It has sought a judicial commission and said it may pursue a private complaint naming the husband as the principal accused.
The worker’s family has also disputed the police account. Zeeshan’s father alleged that his son was tortured and pressured into confessing, and said Zeeshan told him the husband had forced him to intervene during an argument. Those claims, too, remain unverified. The competing allegations mean the account of the crime and the circumstances around the alleged confession remain contested.
What the Forensic Evidence Says—and What Remains Disputed
A DNA report summary identified DNA linked to the domestic worker on samples from Hina and several items recovered from the apartment. It also reported DNA associated with her husband on multiple items. A mixed Y-STR profile from Hina’s clothing included contributions that could not exclude the husband, father-in-law or worker. A DNA match can identify biological material; by itself, it does not determine when or how it was deposited or establish a person’s guilt. Investigators and courts must assess the full evidence and its context.
The CCD investigation chief, Additional Inspector General Sohail Zafar Chattha, has said investigators concluded the worker acted alone and cited DNA and polygraph findings in support. The family has rejected that conclusion and says the evidence warrants further scrutiny of the husband’s possible role. A reported polygraph result is part of the investigators’ account; it is not a court verdict.
The final post-mortem and forensic reports described signs of severe violence. Saturday’s report in Local Newspaper cited bruising on Hina’s hands and arms and a deep wound to her neck. The same report said DNA findings from several items pointed to the domestic worker, while the broader DNA reporting also records matches involving the husband and a mixed profile.
Government and Parliamentary Review
After the family raised concerns, the Punjab government formed a three-member committee led by CCD chief Chattha, with DIG Shoaib Khurram Janbaz and Rawalpindi SSP Investigation Saifullah. The panel has reviewed the case, visited the scene, questioned the husband and worker in jail and met Hina’s family. The family continues to call for a judicial commission, saying it does not trust the police and CCD findings.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control has summoned the Punjab IGP, Rawalpindi RPO and CPO, SSP Investigation and CCD’s additional IG to brief it on the case. The meeting is scheduled for October 29, 2026, at Parliament House, where Hina’s family has also been invited to present its concerns.
Current Status
As of October 24, the husband and domestic worker remain on judicial remand, the investigation is continuing, and no court has determined guilt. The family is still seeking an independent judicial inquiry, while Zeeshan’s father has separately alleged coercion and torture. The next publicly reported oversight step is the National Assembly committee’s October 29 briefing. The central unresolved issue is whether the full body of forensic, testimonial and investigative evidence supports the authorities’ conclusion that the worker acted alone, or whether the family’s concerns require a further independent inquiry.