Chakwal Police Shootout: Australian Girl Killed, Incident Under International Scrutiny
A nine-year-old Australian girl was killed and her father and brother injured in a police shootout in Chakwal, Pakistan, on June 10. The family, on holiday from Perth, was caught in crossfire when police, mistaking them for robbers, opened fire on their vehicle. The incident has drawn significant attention from Australian media outlets including ABC, The Guardian, and SBS. The Crime Control Department (CCD) chief termed the officer's conduct a "grave deviation" from standard operating procedures, acknowledging gross negligence as a thorough investigation proceeds.
A police shootout in Chakwal, Pakistan, resulted in the death of a nine-year-old Australian girl and injuries to her father and brother on June 10. The family, Australian nationals from Perth, was on holiday in Pakistan when their vehicle was mistakenly targeted by police, who believed them to be robbers.
The family, identified as Adil Ahmad, his wife Sidra Khan, 10-year-old son Aqan Ahmad, and daughter Hania, was en route to a family function. Mr. Ahmad reported that at approximately 9 PM on June 10, outside the Crime Control Department's (CCD) office, two armed men held them at gunpoint and snatched valuables from his wife. Following this, he heard heavy gunfire, and the suspected robbers, who had taken shelter in his car, reportedly returned fire. Mr. Ahmad attempted to flee the scene, but bullets pierced the vehicle, injuring him, his son, and his daughter. His wife was unhurt, but Hania later succumbed to her injuries.
Sohail Zafar Chatha, Punjab CCD Additional IG, stated that the officer's conduct represented a "grave deviation from our established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the legal standards governing the use of force." An inquiry found that CCD personnel intervened during an armed robbery in progress, where robbers had intercepted the family's vehicle. During the confrontation, an exchange of gunfire occurred after suspects fired on the responding officer.
AIG Chatha confessed that "in the ensuing chaos, the officer involved mistakenly assessed that the suspects were attempting to flee in the victims’ vehicle and discharged his weapon," describing it as gross negligence. Forensic evidence, including the officer's weapon and spent cartridges, has been secured and processed. AIG Chatha emphasized that there is no justification for departing from protocols, despite high-risk environments, and assured a thorough, impartial investigation.
The tragic incident has garnered extensive coverage in Australian media, including ABC, The Guardian, and SBS news outlets.
(Source: Dawn Pakistan)
