A nine-year-old girl from Australia was killed and two members of her family were injured after Pakistan Province Punjab District Chakwal police allegedly opened fire on their vehicle following a case of mistaken identity during the pursuit of robbers.
Local authorities said on Sunday that a police officer in Punjab’s Chakwal district had been taken into custody after mistakenly firing at the family’s car.
The Pakistani-origin family, who live in Kewdale, Perth, had travelled to Chakwal to visit relatives. On Wednesday night, armed robbers on motorcycles reportedly stopped them.
A police officer returning to a nearby police station witnessed the incident and exchanged gunfire with the two robbers.
The robbers escaped on their motorcycle, but the situation took a tragic turn when additional police officers arrived at the scene, saw the family driving away, and opened fire.
According to police, the officers mistakenly believed the vehicle belonged to the robbers.
“As soon as the police officers saw the vehicle leaving, they assumed it was carrying the robbers and opened indiscriminate fire,” a police official told local media.
The girl was identified as Hania Ahmed. She was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Her father and brother were injured in the shooting and were later transferred to Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, where both underwent surgery. Hania’s mother was unharmed.
Images from the scene showed a white vehicle riddled with more than a dozen bullet holes.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Chakwal District Police later stated that the two main suspects were killed in a subsequent police encounter.
In a statement, police said: “As a result of timely action by special teams formed to arrest those involved in the incident, both principal robbers were killed.”
Police said an investigation had been launched and that strict legal action would be taken if negligence was proven or any officer was found responsible.
“To ensure a transparent and impartial investigation, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been constituted,” the statement said.
“The team is carefully examining all aspects of the case to establish the facts.”
The family had recently returned from Makkah, Saudi Arabia, after performing Hajj. The incident occurred on the same day they came back.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the robbers had stolen jewellery worth approximately 500,000 Pakistani rupees from the family.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the family.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family during this difficult time,” a department spokesperson said.
Western Australia Attorney General Tony Buti expressed sorrow over the tragedy, noting that the child had been visiting Pakistan with her family on holiday.
“This was a case of mistaken identity, and tragically she was struck by a bullet and lost her life. It is extremely distressing,” he said.
“I spoke this morning with Abdullah Khan, a senior member of Western Australia’s Pakistani community, to convey the government’s condolences and support.”
He added that Hania’s father and brother were recovering from their injuries, but described the situation as “truly heartbreaking.”
Zareen Siddiqui, president of a Pakistani community organisation in Australia, called the incident devastating.
“We are deeply shocked at the moment,” she said.
“Although we do not know the family personally, people have been reaching out through community organisations to offer assistance and express their condolences.”
She added that Hania’s mother is a dentist, while her father works as an engineer.
Significant progress has been made in the case involving the killing of 9-year-old Hania Ahmed, a Pakistani-origin girl and citizen of Australia, during alleged firing by CCD personnel in Chakwal, as police have upgraded the charges to Section 302 (premeditated murder).
According to police sources, the case was initially registered under Section 322 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), but was later upgraded after forensic analysis and new evidence emerged during investigation.
Sources said the CCD official named Shuja has been arrested, and the weapon allegedly used in the firing has been recovered from his possession. He has been sent to jail on judicial remand after court proceedings.
The incident occurred when a family of Pakistani origin, now residing in Australia, came under fire following a reported robbery incident in Chakwal. Hania Ahmed was killed in the incident, while her father Adil Ahmed and brother Affan sustained serious injuries.
Initially, authorities described the incident as occurring during a police chase involving suspected robbers. However, later CCTV footage and forensic evidence reportedly indicated possible involvement of CCD personnel.
Meanwhile, Punjab police have distanced themselves from the investigation, stating that such cases fall under the jurisdiction of CCD, which will conduct its own inquiry. The District Police Officer (DPO) Chakwal confirmed that the FIR was registered by local police, but arrests were made and the investigation is being handled by CCD.
Authorities further stated that in Punjab, such matters are directly dealt with by CCD.
In Rawalpindi, senior police officials, including Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz, reportedly did not respond when contacted regarding the high-profile incident.
Citizens and civil society groups have called on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to take immediate notice of the case.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that two suspects were killed in an alleged encounter linked to the same case, while no official clarification has yet been issued by Chakwal Police, the RPO office, or the Inspector General’s office.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for a transparent investigation into the death of an Australian toddler in Chakwal.
In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We urge the Pakistani government to conduct a full investigation into the incident. We hope that the Pakistani authorities will carry out a transparent inquiry and bring the facts to light.”