Minor girl killed after CCD personnel open fire on family car in Chakwal

CHAKWAL: A nine-year-old girl was killed and her father and brother were injured after Crime Control Department personnel opened fire on their car in Chakwal on Wednesday night after mistaking it for a vehicle used by robbers, according to police officials and family members.

Police sources and relatives said Adeel Ahmed, 39, an Australian national originally from Dhudial village, had recently arrived in Pakistan with his wife Dr Sidra Khan, son Aafan Ahmed and daughter Hania Ahmed. After reaching Pakistan, the couple travelled for Haj and returned from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning. Later, Adeel's father-in-law hosted a dinner for the families of his two daughters.

Adeel left his father-in-law's home at about 11:40pm. His wife wanted to visit her maternal uncle Ali Ejaz, whose house is next to the CCD station. Ejaz told Dawn that the family had stopped their rented car outside his home when two armed robbers arrived on a motorcycle.

Ali Ejaz said one of the robbers, carrying a pistol, approached the vehicle and demanded jewellery and cash from Adeel and Sidra. He said his niece handed over jewellery worth Rs500,000. Ejaz told Dawn: "As they stopped their rented car in front of my house, two robbers arrived on a motorcycle. A robber carrying a pistol came to the car and asked Adeel and Sidra to hand over her jewellery and cash,"

A police official said the robber was seen by a CCD official who was returning to the station after having a meal outside. According to an official, the CCD man rushed to the station, took an SMG from a constable and opened fire at the robbers, who also fired back. The two suspects then fled, leaving their motorcycle behind.

During the exchange of fire, Adeel drove away from the scene. A police official said CCD personnel then assumed the departing car belonged to the robbers and fired repeatedly at it. The officials also pursued the vehicle on motorcycles, but Adeel drove on and reached the gate of his father-in-law's house, where he lost control and crashed into the gate. He was also seriously injured in the incident.

The family was taken to District Headquarters Hospital, where Hania was declared dead. Adeel and his son Aafan were later shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, where both underwent surgery. Adeel has since been discharged, while his son remains under treatment. Adeel's wife was not injured.

CCD Regional Officer Rawalpindi Hassan Jehangir Watoo and District Police Officer Chakwal Kashif Zulfiqar visited the bereaved family and assured them that legal action would be taken against those found responsible. The DPO told Dawn: "It was a highly shocking incident. A JIT has been constituted which will present its findings soon,"