Punjab police have pledged a transparent and impartial investigation into the death of nine-year-old Hania Ahmed during a police operation in Chakwal, as the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench sought responses from authorities over the incident.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Inspector General of Police Punjab Rao Abdul Karim said a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had been constituted to determine the facts surrounding the incident and identify any institutional shortcomings.

“We are not limiting ourselves to investigating the incident alone. We also want to determine its causes, identify necessary reforms and review all aspects, including training,” he said.

Additional IG Crime Control Department (CCD) Sohail Zafar Chattha acknowledged that an officer had misused his authority and said the incident resulted in the death of a child while her father and brother sustained injuries.

Police officials said a case was registered immediately on the complaint of the girl’s father and that investigations were being conducted strictly on merit.

According to police, the incident occurred during an exchange of fire between suspected robbers and law enforcement personnel.

A JIT has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive inquiry.

Preliminary hearing at LHC

Separately, the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench held a preliminary hearing on a public-interest petition challenging the killing of Hania in an alleged firing by CCD personnel.

Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan removed procedural objections to the petition and issued notices to the Punjab IG, Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi and District Police Officer Chakwal, directing them to submit replies by Friday.

The petition alleges that CCD personnel opened indiscriminate fire on a vehicle carrying a Pakistani-Australian family, resulting in the child’s death and serious injuries to her father and brother. It seeks judicial intervention, protection for the affected family and the formation of an independent commission to investigate the incident.

According to reports, the family was visiting relatives in Chakwal on June 10 when armed robbers allegedly intercepted them.

Police arrived during the robbery and exchanged fire with the suspects. During the ensuing confusion, officers allegedly fired at the family’s vehicle after mistaking it for that of the fleeing suspects.

A post-mortem report released earlier this week found 11 bullet and injury marks on Hania’s body and concluded that she died from multiple gunshot wounds and excessive blood loss.

Police have confirmed that an officer allegedly involved in the incident has been arrested.