Australian Family Caught in Police Crossfire in Pakistan; Minor Girl Killed, Investigation Launched

LAHORE: The fatal shooting of a nine-year-old girl in a police operation in Chakwal has drawn international attention, with Australian media outlets including ABC, The Guardian, and SBS reporting on the incident. The Crime Control Department (CCD) chief described the event as a serious breach of standard operating procedures.

On June 10, Perth-based Australian nationals Adil Ahmad, his wife Sidra Khan, their 10-year-old son Aqan Ahmad, and daughter Hania were traveling to a family function in Chakwal when their vehicle was intercepted by armed individuals suspected of robbery. The suspects held the family at gunpoint, leading to a confrontation with CCD personnel. During the exchange of fire, the officer mistakenly targeted the family’s car, killing the child and injuring her father and brother. The mother escaped unharmed.

According to inquiry findings, the CCD team intervened during an active armed robbery. The suspects, who had forced the family from their vehicle, engaged in gunfire with the officer. The CCD chief, Sohail Zafar Chatha, acknowledged “gross negligence,” stating that the officer’s actions deviated from established protocols. Forensic evidence, including the weapon and shell casings, has been collected as part of a comprehensive investigation.

“While our personnel operate in high-risk environments, there is no justification for abandoning protocol,” Chatha said, emphasizing that the probe aims to ensure accountability and justice.

CCD chief calls shootout ‘a deviation from SOPs’; probe on

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