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Hania Ahmed, a nine year old Australian girl, was killed after Punjab Police mistakenly fire on her family car in Pakistan.
Australian Girl Shot Dead in Pakistan Police Firing
In a shocking incident, a nine-year-old Australian girl was killed and two members of her family were seriously injured after police opened fire on their vehicle in Pakistan’s Punjab province, mistaking it for a car being used by armed robbers.
The victim, Hania Ahmed, from the Perth suburb of Kewdale, was visiting relatives in Chakwal with her family when the incident took place late night on June 10, reports Guardian.
Robbery leads to deadly misunderstanding
According to local media reports, the family was travelling in a rental car when they were confronted by two robbers on a motorcycle, one of whom was carrying a pistol.
Punjab Police later said officers from the Crime Control Department intervened after the Australian family was allegedly taken hostage at gunpoint. During the incident, the suspects reportedly fired at a police officer, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
The robbers then fled on their motorcycle. At the same time, the family’s rental vehicle also drove away from the scene. Police officials said officers mistakenly believed the fleeing car belonged to the suspects.
“As the cops saw the vehicle being driven away immediately, they took it as belonging to the robbers and opened indiscriminate fire on the car,” a police official told local media.
Punjab Police said the officer involved wrongly concluded that the suspects were escaping in the victims’ vehicle. “This erroneous decision resulted in the tragic death of Hania and injuries to her father and brother,” the force said in a statement.
Father and brother injured
The family was rushed to hospital after the shooting.
Hania was pronounced dead, while her father, Adeel Ahmed, and her older brother suffered serious injuries. Her mother was not injured. The father and son were later transferred to Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi for surgery.
According to Australian Islamic College executive principal Abdullah Khan, Adeel Ahmed has recovered well, but Hania’s brother remains in hospital and continues to undergo treatment.
Khan said it could take more than a month before the boy is fit enough to return to Australia.
Officer arrested, inquiry launched
Punjab Police said the officer’s actions were a complete departure from established procedures and legal principles governing the use of force.
The officer has been suspended, formally arrested and produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody. His weapon and spent shell casings have been seized and sent for forensic examination.
Police said a “thorough, impartial investigation” was underway. “We recognise that our primary duty is the protection of human life, and any failure to adhere to the principle of minimum force is treated with the highest level of legal and departmental accountability,” the statement said.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. While our personnel operate in high-risk environments, there is no justification for a departure from our protocols.”
Meanwhile, the two robbery suspects were killed in a separate encounter with police on Thursday night, according to Pakistani newspaper Dawn.
Australian PM demand answer from Pakistan
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for a transparent investigation into the incident. “These circumstances do need to be examined. They need to be examined in a transparent way, so that everyone can know, the family, most importantly, but others as well,” he told reporters.
“Australia expects there to be transparency and a proper investigation of these circumstances.”
He described the incident as particularly heartbreaking. “My heart goes out to the family and friends, and indeed the Pakistani Australian community will be really feeling this today. A nine-year-old girl visiting Pakistan with her family should have been a time of joy.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the family.
Western Australia Attorney General Tony Buti described the shooting as a tragic case of “mistaken identity”.
Hania was a Year 4 student at Australian Islamic College in Kewdale, while her older brother studies in Grade 5 at the same school. The school held a special assembly on Friday and offered counselling services to students.
The Pakistani Association of Western Australia said it remained in contact with the family.
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