Source : Perth Now news
Pakistani authorities say police are pursuing murder charges against the officer who shot and killed a nine-year-old Perth girl during an attempted robbery.
Hania Ahmed was shot and killed by police while visiting the city of Chakwal in Punjab with her family on June 10.
Hania had been sitting in the back of a rental car being driven by her father Adeel Ahmed, 39, when a pair of armed thieves ran up to the vehicle and began demanding cash and jewellery from her mother, who was also a passenger.
Speaking to local outlet Dawn, Mr Ahmed’s relative Ali Ejaz said a team of Crime Control Department officers appeared and began firing at the thieves, who were standing close to the family car.
As Mr Ahmed attempted to manoeuvre the vehicle out of the firing line, officers thinking the thieves had stolen the car began shooting into the vehicle against protocol.
Hania was shot multiple times and died on the way to hospital, and her father and brother also sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds.
The Pakistan Crime Control Department told local media on Wednesday an officer had breached training protocol during the horrific shooting.
CCCD Superintendent Shah Meer Khalid said the officer didn’t properly identify his targets before opening fire, and he also failed to aim at the vehicle’s tyres.
“Whenever a target is engaged, the aim must be at the tyres. This was not followed. It is another serious breach, and because of this, the innocent girl lost her life,” Superintendent Khalid said.
“We are with the family in this moment of grief. We are investigating the mistake committed by the CCD officer in this incident.”
Superintendent Khalid said an information report had been filed under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code that covers murder.
The announcement comes after Anthony Albanese weighed in on the investigation, which he said should be treated with extreme seriousness.
“These circumstances do need to be examined … in a transparent way so that everyone can know – the family most importantly but others as well,” the Prime Minister said on Monday.
“Australia expects there to be transparency and a proper investigation of these circumstances.”
