A nine-year-old girl from Perth was shot by police in Pakistan. Local authorities stated that the incident was a case of mistaken identity during an armed robbery. The child was with her family in Chakwal when they were surprised by armed robbers outside a relative’s house. While the girl’s mother was handing over jewelry valued at about 500,000 rupees, a police officer en route to a nearby station observed the event. A gunfight ensued with the suspects, who then fled on a motorcycle.
When the family attempted to leave in their rental car, other police officers who arrived opened fire, mistaking the vehicle for that of the suspects. The girl was taken to a hospital, where her death was confirmed. The father and brother were also taken to a clinic with injuries.
Later, the police district of Chakwal issued a statement confirming that the two suspects were killed during an police operation. Additionally, one police officer was arrested following an initial investigation. A joint investigation commission has been established to clarify the incident, and officials stated that legal action would be taken if negligence or fault on the part of any officer were found.
