Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Karim on Wednesday shared details of the investigation into the death of minor girl Hania in Chakwal, saying the probe was aimed at uncovering the truth and not protecting anyone.
Addressing a press conference, the Punjab police chief said the death of an innocent child had devastated a family and that the tragedy could not be concealed behind procedural difficulties.
“A young girl has lost her life and a family has been shattered. The loss of an innocent child cannot be hidden behind complications,” he said.
The IGP said the police personnel allegedly involved in the incident had been taken into custody and were being interrogated. He added that a joint investigation was underway to establish the facts.
“This investigation is not being conducted to save anyone but to bring the truth to light,” he said.
Mr Abdul Karim said no institution could earn public trust unless it was willing to acknowledge its mistakes. He added that negligence and misuse of authority by police officials would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
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He said the Punjab Police, the provincial government and all relevant institutions were making efforts to ensure a transparent investigation and that measures would be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
The Punjab IGP also assured that the case would be investigated with honesty and sincerity.
Meanwhile, Additional IG CCD Sohail Zafar Chattha said the First Information Report (FIR) in the case was registered immediately on the complaint of the girl’s father.
He said a police official had been nominated in the FIR on the basis of weapons records and eyewitness accounts.
Providing details of the incident, Mr Chattha said that during an exchange of fire, the suspected robbers had taken cover behind the vehicle and opened fire. The police official allegedly believed that shots were being fired from inside the car.
He said Hania’s father drove away after the firing began, leading the officer to assume that the robbers were inside the vehicle.
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The Additional IG said the standard operating procedures (SOPs) clearly state that police personnel cannot open fire based solely on assumptions.
“Even when police raid the house of a robber, the safety of his family is ensured,” he said, adding that the officer’s decision to fire based on an assumption was a serious mistake.
