CHAKWAL: Following Australian government call for impartial investigations into the case , the Punjab government has sought the record of CCD’s firing that caused death of an Australian -Pakistani minor girl in Chakwal last week. Prosecutor Punjab , Syed Fida Hussain Shah, directed CCD to submit the record of the firing incident tomorrow (Tuesday).
The killed minor , Hania 9, was an Australian -Pakistani. The victim’s father and brother were also injured in the CCD’s alleged firing incident. The Australian prime minister has demanded of the government of Pakistan to have fair investigations into the case and fix those involved.
The timeline of the incident:
A CCD officer has been arrested and sent into judicial custody after a 10-year-old girl was killed and two members of her family were injured in a firing incident in Chakwal, according to
an official Punjab Police press release.
The incident occurred at around 11:45pm on June 10 near the CCD Police Station in Chakwal.
According to the press release, the officer violated standard operating procedures (SOPs) and use of force protocols after mistakenly opening fire on a vehicle carrying a family, resulting in the death of a minor girl identified as Hania and injuries to her father and brother.
A case has been registered on the complaint of the deceased girl’s father, while the officer has been suspended from service, arrested and sent into judicial custody. Police said forensic
evidence, including the officer’s weapon and spent bullet casings, has been taken into custody as part of the investigation.
A source within Chakwal Police Station told that the incident unfolded when the CCD officer, who was returning after having dinner at home, noticed what appeared to be an armed robbery in
progress involving the family’s vehicle.
According to the source, the officer moved forward to assist the victims, but the robbers allegedly opened fire on him. The officer took cover near a wall and returned fire. During the exchange of gunfire, the suspects allegedly used the victims vehicle as cover before fleeing through nearby streets and alleys.
The source said the officer mistakenly believed the suspects had entered the vehicle and were escaping in it. At the same time, the family accelerated away from the scene in an apparent attempt to save themselves from the armed robbers.
Believing the vehicle was being driven by the fleeing suspects, the officer opened fire, reportedly intending to disable it by shooting at its tyres. However, the bullets struck the vehicle instead. The source said that the exact number of rounds fired could not be determined, adding that weapon magazines may contain varying capacities ranging from 10 to 30 bullets, all of which
were reportedly discharged during the incident.”
As a result, 10-year-old Hania died at the scene, while her father and brother sustained injuries.
Both were shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital for treatment. The source said the condition of the boy has since improved.The Punjab Police press release stated that the officer failed to correctly assess the situation and
opened fire without properly identifying the occupants of the vehicle. The department termed the incident a violation of established policing procedures and use of force guidelines.
The source further stated that the CCD officer had previously been regarded as a competent official and had received several performance awards during his service. According to the source,
the shooting was not intentional but resulted from a mistaken assessment during a rapidly evolving and chaotic situation.
However, the source emphasised that the officer’s professional record would not shield him from accountability.
“The legal process has already begun and the case will proceed strictly according to the law. The fact that the accused is a police officer does not mean he will receive any special treatment,” the
source said.
The source also revealed that police officials have met with the bereaved family following the incident. According to the source, the family has demanded justice for the death of their daughter
and has called for those responsible to be held accountable.
