Hania Ahmad, 9, dies after CCD opens fire on Pakistani-Australian family
A major development has emerged in the tragic case that claimed the life of nine-year-old Hania Ahmed. A Crime Control Department (CCD) official has been arrested after murder charges were added to the case, while two robbery suspects linked to the incident were later killed in a police encounter.
According to reports, 39-year-old Adeel Ahmed was travelling with his wife Dr Sidra Khan, daughter Hania Ahmed, and son Aafan Ahmed when the family came under attack during a robbery incident. CCD personnel allegedly mistook their vehicle for that of fleeing robbers and opened fire.
The firing proved fatal for Hania Ahmed, who died at the scene. Her father Adeel Ahmed and brother Aafan Ahmed were seriously injured, while Dr Sidra Khan escaped without any injuries.
After the shooting, the robbery suspects managed to flee from the area. They reportedly abandoned their motorcycle and escaped before police could capture them.
Initially, the CCD official involved in the firing was not named in the First Information Report. However, investigators later added Section 302 related to murder, leading to the official’s arrest.
A day later, CCD personnel tracked down the two robbery suspects and killed them during an encounter. The suspects were identified as Mohammad Abbas from Shahdara and Mohammad Feyaz from Ferozwala.
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A senior CCD official claimed that “Both the robbers were involved in a spree of robbery incidents occurred within three hours on Wednesday night. They were the same who got into a shootout with the personnel of CCD while looting an Australian national family”.
Police officials said both suspects had lengthy criminal records and had allegedly been involved in more than a dozen cases across Punjab. Authorities also claimed Abbas had links to robbery incidents reported in Chakwal in 2021.
Investigators believe the suspects carried out several crimes while travelling through different districts. Officials alleged they shot a CCD officer in Gujranwala, snatched a motorcycle in Sheikhupura, and robbed a vendor in Khewra before reaching Chakwal.
Police further claimed the suspects stayed at a mosque near Sutwal village after arriving in the district. Authorities said they used unusual methods to avoid suspicion while planning robberies.
According to officials, “Abbas used to wear women’s clothes with a gown acting as the wife of his accomplice Feyaz”. Police alleged the pair disguised themselves as a couple during the day to identify targets and then carried out robberies at night.
The case has raised serious concerns about police response during armed incidents. The arrest of a CCD official suggests investigators are examining whether proper procedures were followed before opening fire.
The deaths of the robbery suspects may answer some questions about their alleged crimes, but many people are still seeking clarity about how a family became caught in the middle of the operation. The investigation is likely to remain under close public attention in the coming days.
