Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for a full, independent and transparent investigation into the death of nine-year-old Australian girl Hania Ahmed, who was killed in Pakistan’s Chakwal district after police allegedly opened fire on her family’s vehicle following a case of mistaken identity.
According to a British broadcaster, Albanese told journalists in Canberra that every aspect of the incident must be thoroughly examined to ensure that the affected family and all relevant parties are fully informed of the facts.
“Australia expects that this tragic incident will be investigated in an appropriate, impartial and transparent manner,” the Australian prime minister said.
Albanese added that the Australian government is providing consular assistance to the bereaved family and is closely monitoring developments in the case.
The incident involved a Pakistani-origin family from Kewdale, Perth, who had travelled to Chakwal to visit relatives. According to local authorities, the family was stopped by armed robbers riding a motorcycle on Wednesday night.
A police officer returning to a nearby police station reportedly witnessed the incident, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the officer and the two robbers. The suspects managed to flee on their motorcycle, but the situation took a tragic turn when additional police personnel arrived at the scene and allegedly opened fire on the family’s vehicle.
Police said the officers mistakenly believed the vehicle belonged to the fleeing robbers. A police official told local media that as officers saw the vehicle leaving the area, they assumed it was carrying the suspects and opened indiscriminate fire.
Hania Ahmed was critically wounded in the shooting and was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The girl’s father and brother were also injured in the firing and were later shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, where both underwent surgery. Hania’s mother remained unharmed.
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Images circulating after the incident showed a white vehicle bearing more than a dozen bullet marks.
In a significant development in the case, local authorities said a police officer has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
The case registered on the complaint of Hania’s father initially included Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to causing death through negligence or carelessness. However, following the insistence of the complainants, Section 302, which pertains to murder, was later added to the case.
Separately, CCD Chief Sohail Zafar Chattha visited the family’s home, where he expressed sorrow over the incident, acknowledged that a mistake had occurred and assured the family that the institution’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be further strengthened to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The tragedy has attracted significant attention in both Pakistan and Australia, with authorities, the affected family and the public awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
