Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for a “transparent” and “proper investigation” into the death of a nine-year-old Perth girl in Pakistan.
Hania Ahmed was fatally shot last week after local police mistook her family for armed robbers and opened fire on her family’s hire car in Chakwal.
Hania’s father, Adeel Ahmed, 39, and older brother Aafan Ahmed, 11, were seriously injured in the shooting by the Pakistani Crime Control Department, while her mother, Dr Sidra Khan, escaped physically unharmed.
Anthony Albanese on Monday expressed his condolences and insisted the death of the Australian-Pakistani girl needed to be “examined”.
“Australia expects there to be transparency and a proper investigation of these circumstances,” the PM said.
“My understanding is that, not only has a young girl lost her life, but there have been other members of the family injured as well in circumstances which are dire indeed.
“My heart goes out to the family and friends.
“Indeed the Pakistani Australian community will be really feeling this.
“A nine year old girl visiting Pakistan with her family should have been a time of joy, and these circumstances do need to be examined.
“They need to be examined in a transparent way.”
According to local reports, the family had left an extended family dinner and had stopped to see another family member just after 11.40pm when two armed robbers threatened the family.
The robbers took around $7500 worth of jewellery when the incident was seen by a nearby police officer, who rushed back to grab a firearm from the neighbouring station.
Punjab police confirmed the CCD officer’s involvement on a lengthy statement posted to X on Monday morning (AEST).
It stated that the Crime Control Department extended “its deepest condolences and profound sorrow” to the family and vowed to investigate the circumstances.
“We are conducting a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure that the demands of justice are fully met,” officials stated, according to the English translation of the post.
“The relevant officer was suspended from duty and taken into custody on the same day. Subsequently, he was formally arrested and presented in court, from where he was remanded to judicial custody in jail.
“The CCD remains committed to its duty of public protection and will continue to hold its officers to the highest standards of professional conduct.
“The CCD reiterates its unwavering support for the affected family and its resolve to swiftly bring this case to a legal conclusion.”
The statement added that authorities had been in “daily contact with the affected family” and they had “expressed satisfaction with the pace and transparency of the ongoing legal process”.
Her father Mr Ahmed and relative Ali Ejaz had, however, condemned the officers and called for them to be punished in a passionate interview with a local news outlet.
“The CCD people, they have no professionalism. They have no brains. They have just been given rifles and machine guns,” Mr Ahmed told SBS Urdu, in a translated account.
“We have been shot with machinegun rounds from an AK47. My daughter, who I saw, had three or four wounds and she was martyred on the spot.
“It was started by the CCD. The thieves did not start the firing first. They only fired in retaliation.”
Mr Ahmed has since called for an independent investigation and for Pakistani people to request Prime Minister Shabbaz Sharif reform the CCD.
Pakistan Association of Western Australia general secretary Asim Chaudhry told The West at the weekend that Perth’s Pakistani community had been left in mourning and distress.
“When this news came to us… it was terrible, it’s something that really touches your heart, especially when there’s a casualty as well, and especially when it comes to the kids,” he said.
“We’re talking about a very innocent nine years old girl who actually unfortunately died on the spot so definitely that’s something that really hurts you, that makes you think of negligence and ignorance for a while can actually make a huge loss.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family.
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