CCD Chief Admits Fatal Chakwal Shooting Was a Grave SOP Violation

LAHORE: (Web Desk) – The tragic death of a nine-year-old Australian girl in a police shooting incident in Chakwal has drawn significant attention from Australian media outlets, while senior Punjab police officials have acknowledged serious procedural failures in the case.

The incident was widely reported by Australian news organizations, including ABC, The Guardian, and SBS News, which noted that the Perth-based family was visiting Pakistan when they became victims of police crossfire during an armed robbery incident.

The tragedy occurred on June 10 when nine-year-old Hania Ahmad was fatally wounded after police opened fire on a vehicle carrying her family, mistakenly believing it was being used by fleeing robbers. Her father, Adil Ahmad, and 10-year-old brother, Aqan Ahmad, were also injured in the shooting. All family members are Australian nationals.

According to Adil Ahmad’s statement to investigators, the family had arrived in Pakistan from Makkah and was travelling to a family gathering at his in-laws’ residence in Chakwal at around 9pm. As their vehicle approached the Crime Control Department (CCD) office, two armed suspects allegedly stopped the car at gunpoint and robbed the family.

Moments later, heavy gunfire erupted as CCD personnel confronted the suspects. The robbers reportedly took cover behind the family’s vehicle and exchanged fire with police. In an attempt to escape the danger zone, Adil Ahmad drove away, but multiple bullets struck the vehicle, injuring him, his son and daughter. While his wife, Sidra Khan, escaped unharmed, Hania later succumbed to her injuries.

Punjab CCD Additional Inspector General Sohail Zafar Chatha described the shooting as a “grave deviation” from established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Speaking about the findings of an ongoing inquiry, Chatha said CCD officers had responded to an armed robbery in progress. During the confrontation, suspects opened fire on responding personnel, triggering an exchange of gunfire.

“In the ensuing chaos, the officer involved mistakenly assessed that the suspects were attempting to flee in the victims’ vehicle and discharged his weapon,” Chatha said, acknowledging serious negligence on the part of the officer.

He added that forensic evidence, including the officer’s weapon and spent cartridges, had been secured and examined as part of the investigation.

“While our personnel operate in high-risk environments, there is no justification for a departure from our protocols. We are conducting a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure that justice is served,” he stated.

Authorities have launched a comprehensive probe into the incident, which has sparked public outrage in both Pakistan and Australia.