Chakwal Shooting Tragedy: 9-Year-Old Haniya Killed, JIT Formed to Investigate CCD Police Firing
CHAKWAL – The joys of a family turned into mourning after officials of the Crime Control Department (CCD) opened fire, resulting in the death of nine-year-old Haniya Ahmed and critically injuring her father Adeel Ahmed and 10-year-old brother Afan Ahmed.
According to police and family sources, 39-year-old Adeel Ahmed, an Australian citizen and resident of Dhadial, had recently arrived in Pakistan with his wife Dr Sidra Khan, son Afan, and daughter Haniya. The couple had performed Hajj and returned home on Wednesday morning. That evening, Adeel’s father-in-law hosted a dinner in honor of both daughters’ families.
After the dinner, Adeel Ahmed left his in-laws’ house at around 11:40 pm. On the way, his wife expressed a desire to visit her maternal uncle Raja Ali Ijaz, whose house is adjacent to the CCD police station. At that moment, two armed motorcyclists allegedly approached the family car and robbed them of cash and jewelry.
Speaking to Three Stars Media Group, the victim’s uncle Raja Ali Ijaz said, “The car had just stopped in front of my house when two robbers on a motorcycle appeared. They consulted each other, and then one robber approached the car with a pistol and demanded jewelry and cash from Adeel Ahmed and Dr Sidra.” He added that his niece handed over jewelry worth approximately Rs500,000 to the robber.
As the robber turned to leave, a CCD official returning from dinner spotted him. The official ran to the police station, took an SMG rifle from a constable, and opened fire on the robbers. The robbers returned fire and fled, abandoning their motorcycle.
A police officer told Three Stars Media Group that frightened by the gunfire, Adeel Ahmed immediately drove the car away. “When police saw the car speeding away, they mistook it for the robbers’ vehicle and opened indiscriminate fire on it.”
According to police sources, officials suspected the car was being used by the robbers, but later discovered that a family — themselves victims of robbery — was inside.
CCD officials chased the car on motorcycles but could not stop it. A severely injured Adeel Ahmed managed to reach his father-in-law’s gate but lost control, crashing the car into the gate.
Adeel Ahmed and his son Afan were transferred to Rawalpindi after first aid, where both underwent surgery. Adeel has been discharged home, while Afan continues to receive treatment. Dr Sidra Khan remained unharmed in the incident.
Authorities have formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the incident and determine responsibility for the fatal police firing.
