Summary
- CHAKWAL: A nine-year-old girl was killed while her father and brother sustained serious injuries after personnel of the Crime Control Department (CCD) allegedly opened fire on a family vehicle that they mistakenly suspected belonged to fleeing robbers during a late-night operation in Chakwal.
- According to police officials and the victim’s family, CCD personnel pursued and fired at a vehicle they believed was being used by armed suspects escaping the scene.
- Police personnel mistakenly assumed the vehicle belonged to the fleeing suspects and opened fire,” the officer said.
CHAKWAL: A nine-year-old girl was killed while her father and brother sustained serious injuries after personnel of the Crime Control Department (CCD) allegedly opened fire on a family vehicle that they mistakenly suspected belonged to fleeing robbers during a late-night operation in Chakwal.
The incident occurred on the night between Wednesday and Thursday following a robbery near the CCD police station. According to police officials and the victim’s family, CCD personnel pursued and fired at a vehicle they believed was being used by armed suspects escaping the scene.
As a result, nine-year-old Hania Ahmed was killed, while her father, Adil Ahmed, 39, and 10-year-old brother, Aafan Ahmed, suffered critical injuries.
In the aftermath of the incident, a CCD official was suspended and authorities constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), headed by the Superintendent of Police (Investigation), to ascertain the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
CCD Rawalpindi Region Director Hassan Jahangir Wattoo and District Police Officer (DPO) Chakwal Kashif Zulfiqar assured the family that strict legal action would be taken against those found responsible.
According to police and family members, Adil Ahmed, an Australian national originally from Dhudial, Chakwal, had recently arrived in Pakistan along with his wife, Dr Sidra Khan, and their two children. The family had returned from Hajj earlier on Wednesday and attended a dinner hosted in their honour by relatives later that evening.
After the gathering, Adil Ahmed left his in-laws’ residence at around 11:40pm. During the journey, his wife expressed a desire to visit her uncle, Raja Ali Ejaz, whose residence is located adjacent to the CCD police station.
Speaking to Daily Minute Mirror, Mr Ejaz said the family’s vehicle had just stopped outside his house when two armed men arrived on a motorcycle.
“The car had just pulled up outside my house when two robbers approached. After briefly consulting each other, one of them came to the vehicle, pointed a pistol at Adil Ahmed and Dr Sidra, and demanded cash and jewellery,” he said.
According to Mr Ejaz, the family handed over jewellery worth approximately Rs500,000 before the suspects attempted to flee.
Police sources said that at the same time, a CCD official returning to the station noticed the suspects and rushed inside to obtain a sub-machine gun from a constable. The official then opened fire on the fleeing robbers, who reportedly returned fire before abandoning their motorcycle and escaping.
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the sound of gunfire caused panic among the victims.
“Fearing for their safety, Adil Ahmed immediately drove away from the scene. Police personnel mistakenly assumed the vehicle belonged to the fleeing suspects and opened fire,” the officer said.
Investigators later determined that the occupants of the vehicle were not suspects but victims of the robbery.
According to police sources, CCD personnel pursued the vehicle on motorcycles but failed to stop it. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Adil Ahmed continued driving towards his father-in-law’s residence. However, due to the injuries he suffered, he lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into the entrance gate of the house.
The injured were initially shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors pronounced Hania Ahmed dead. Adil Ahmed and his son were subsequently referred to Rawalpindi for specialised treatment and surgery.
Hospital sources said Adil Ahmed was later discharged after receiving treatment, while Aafan Ahmed remains under medical care. Dr Sidra Khan was not injured in the incident.
DPO Kashif Zulfiqar described the episode as “deeply unfortunate” and said a comprehensive inquiry had been launched.
“We are conducting a thorough investigation and action will be taken in accordance with the findings,” he said.
The bereaved family has demanded a transparent investigation and accountability for those responsible, urging authorities to ensure justice for the child who lost her life in the incident.
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