ISLAMABAD – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for a fully transparent and detailed investigation into killing of nine-year-old Pakistani-origin Australian girl Hania Ahmed in a shooting incident by CCD in Chakwal, as the case triggers growing international concern and diplomatic attention.
Speaking in Canberra, Albanese said the circumstances surrounding the child’s death must be “properly and transparently examined,” saying both the grieving family and the wider public deserve clear answers. He added that Australia expects Pakistani authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation to establish the truth behind the incident.
The remarks come as conflicting accounts continue to emerge over the sequence of events that led to the child’s death in Chakwal on 10 June, during what began as an armed robbery attempt and escalated into a deadly police operation.
According to initial police versions, the family was travelling in a rented vehicle when armed robbers intercepted them at gunpoint. Officials say the suspects attempted to rob the family, triggering a violent confrontation in which gunfire was exchanged after the robbers allegedly opened fire on a Crime Control Department (CCD) officer.
Police further claim that during the chaos, a CCD constable mistakenly identified the family’s car as the escape vehicle of the suspects and opened fire, fatally striking nine-year-old Hania and injuring her father Adil Ahmed and her brother.
However, the victim’s father has disputed this account, telling SBS Urdu that police fired first, directly contradicting the official version and deepening uncertainty about what exactly transpired.
The original FIR filed by Adil Ahmed described a robbery attempt but did not initially mention police firing. Later procedural amendments reportedly added sections implicating the CCD officer, with authorities stating the changes were made following further investigation at the family’s request.
CCD constable involved has since been arrested and placed on judicial remand by a Chakwal court. Officials confirm that his official weapon has been seized, forensic tests are underway on bullet casings and the vehicle, and CCTV footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation.
In a further development, Chakwal police claim that two suspected robbers involved in the incident were later killed in a separate encounter and identified as Muhammad Fayyaz and Muhammad Abbas. Authorities say both had prior criminal records, though the exact circumstances of their deaths have not yet been fully detailed, adding to the controversy surrounding the case.
The victim’s family, originally from Chakwal’s Dadhyal area, had lived in Australia for nearly two decades. Adil Ahmed, a civil engineer, and his wife, a doctor, had recently returned to Pakistan for a short visit following their pilgrimage to Hajj. During their stay, they rented a car while visiting relatives.
CCTV footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows the family’s vehicle stopping near a wall close to the CCD police station shortly before two armed men on a motorcycle arrived and approached the car, triggering the robbery attempt and subsequent firing.
A senior CCD official has acknowledged the incident as an “operational mistake” but insisted the department will remain neutral during the investigation. Meanwhile, concerns have intensified after the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported a high number of alleged police encounter killings in Punjab, raising broader questions about policing practices and accountability.
A Joint Investigation Team has recorded statements from the injured father, and authorities are expected to submit a final report in the coming days as pressure mounts both domestically and internationally for clarity, accountability, and justice.
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