LHC sends plea for FIA probe into Hania's murder to agency chief

LAHORE: The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court has forwarded a petition seeking a Federal Investigation Agency investigation into the killing of nine-year-old Hania in Chakwal to the FIA director general for a decision under the law.

Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan heard the matter, with police and Crime Control Department officials appearing before the court. During the hearing, police told the bench that a case had already been registered over the child’s killing and that the suspect had been arrested.

Petition sent to FIA chief

The petition asked for the case to be investigated by the FIA. The court disposed of the writ petition after sending the matter to the FIA chief and directing him to decide the application in accordance with the law.

Petitioner’s counsel Mian Asif Mahmood argued before the court that Hania was killed in firing by CCD personnel. He further submitted that it was later stated that two alleged robbers were also killed in the same incident, and contended that the episode therefore amounted to a triple murder case that should be investigated by the FIA.

In his arguments, the petitioner maintained that an impartial inquiry could not be carried out by the same department whose personnel were implicated in the case.

"The suspect belongs to the CCD, and the department cannot conduct an impartial investigation into its own case"

Following these submissions, the court directed the DG FIA to decide the petition filed by Advocate Asif Mahmood in line with the law.

Details of the incident

Hania, described as an Australian-Pakistani girl, was killed in a firing incident involving Punjab CCD officials in Chakwal on June 10. Presented in the source material, the family had been in Chakwal on holiday when CCD personnel allegedly mistook their vehicle for that of robbers and opened fire. The child sustained bullet injuries and died at the scene.

Earlier post-mortem findings stated that the nine-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Her body bore 11 bullet and injury marks. The examination found that the firing caused extensive damage to several vital organs, including the heart, liver, lungs, chest and abdomen.