Australian PM Calls for Transparent Inquiry into Pakistani Shooting Death of Australian Girl
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for a transparent inquiry into the shooting death of nine-year-old Hania Ahmad by the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) in Chakwal, Pakistan. Hania, an Australian national from Perth, was on holiday with her family when their vehicle was mistakenly fired upon by CCD personnel during a robbery. Hania died on the scene, while her father, Adeel Ahmed, and brother, Aafan Ahmed, were critically injured. Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the need for a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident, expressing condolences to the family. Australian authorities are providing consular assistance, and a CCD official has reportedly been arrested in connection with Hania's death.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday called for a transparent inquiry into the fatal shooting of nine-year-old Hania Ahmad by the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) in Chakwal, Pakistan. The incident occurred earlier this week when CCD personnel opened fire on the family's vehicle, mistaking it for that of robbers during a robbery.
Hania Ahmad, an Australian national from Perth, died on the spot. Her father, Adeel Ahmed, 39, and brother, Aafan Ahmed, 10, were critically injured in the shooting. Hania's mother, Dr. Sidra Khan, remained unhurt. The family was reportedly on holiday in Pakistan at the time.
Prime Minister Albanese, speaking in Canberra, stated that the circumstances of the incident needed to be "properly examined" in a "transparent way." He added, "Australia expects there to be transparency and a proper investigation of these circumstances." Albanese also conveyed his condolences to the family and friends of the victims, acknowledging the impact on the Pakistani Australian community.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family. Western Australia Attorney General Tony Buti described the incident as a "tragic case of mistaken identity," expressing thoughts for the family and the Pakistani community in Western Australia. The Pakistani Association of Western Australia reported that the Ahmad family has requested privacy.
In related developments, two suspects involved in Wednesday night robberies and a fatal shootout were reportedly killed in an encounter with CCD Chakwal. Furthermore, an official of the department has been arrested on charges of murdering the minor girl and injuring her brother and father. The First Information Report (FIR) has been amended to include Section 302, leading to the official's arrest, according to Dawn Pakistan.
