Australia calls for probe into fatal Chakwal shooting

The incident occurred on June 10 when Hania Ahmed was fatally wounded after personnel of the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) opened fire on a vehicle carrying her family.

ISLAMABAD: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the tragic killing of a nine-year-old Pakistani-Australian girl who died after being shot during a law enforcement operation in Chakwal, Punjab.

The incident occurred on June 10 when Hania Ahmed was fatally wounded after personnel of the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) opened fire on a vehicle carrying her family. Her father, Adeel Ahmed, and her brother, Affan Ahmed, were also seriously injured, while her mother escaped unharmed.

The case has attracted significant attention in both Pakistan and Australia, prompting demands for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Speaking in Canberra, Prime Minister Albanese expressed sympathy for the grieving family and emphasized the need for a transparent investigation that would provide answers and ensure accountability. He also conveyed his condolences to the wider Pakistani-Australian community, describing the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy.

Australia’s High Commission in Pakistan confirmed that consular assistance is being provided to the affected family and extended its deepest sympathies during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, senior Punjab CCD officials visited the family in Chakwal and acknowledged the seriousness of the incident. Additional Inspector General Sohail Zafar Chattha stated that the department does not support extrajudicial actions and operates strictly against individuals involved in major criminal activities. He described the death of the child as a tragic loss and stressed that public trust and the confidence of the victim’s family were essential to the credibility of the investigation.

According to officials, several robbery incidents had been reported in the area on the day of the shooting. CCD teams were pursuing armed suspects when an exchange of gunfire erupted. Authorities said officers mistakenly identified the family’s vehicle as one being used by fleeing criminals, leading to the fatal error.

Chattha admitted that the incident highlighted the need for improvements in operational procedures and training to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Later, CCD Superintendent of Police Shah Meer Khalid announced that the personnel involved in the firing had been taken into custody and both legal and departmental proceedings had been initiated. He confirmed that investigators found the officers had violated standard operating procedures and assured the family that the inquiry would be conducted fairly and transparently.

The family, residents of Perth, Australia, had travelled to Pakistan for a holiday after performing Hajj. On the night of the incident, they were reportedly heading to a relative’s home when armed robbers intercepted their vehicle and stole valuables. As gunfire broke out between the suspects and CCD officers, Adeel Ahmed attempted to drive his family away from danger. Officers allegedly mistook the moving vehicle for that of escaping criminals and opened fire.

Hania suffered critical injuries and later died at a local hospital, while her father and brother continue to receive medical treatment in Rawalpindi.

The shooting has triggered widespread public outrage and renewed debate over law enforcement accountability. In a significant development, authorities have upgraded the charges against the arrested CCD official from culpable homicide to murder under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, signaling a more serious legal response to the case.