A nine-year-old girl from Perth has died in Pakistan after police opened fire on a rental car, which they believed to be the getaway vehicle of alleged jewellery robbers.

Hania Ahmed was travelling through Chakwal in Punjab with her father Adeel Ahmed, mother Dr Sidra Khan and brother Aafan to visit relatives on Wednesday.

The family, who are from the Perth suburb of Kewdale, were confronted by two alleged robbers as they arrived at the home of Dr Khan’s uncle, Ali Ejaz.

The alleged robbers demanded jewellery and the family handed over about $7,500 worth of their belongings, Mr Ejaz told local media.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by a police officer who exchanged fire with the two suspects before they fled on a motorcycle.

As the family drove away, more police arrived and opened fire, mistakenly believing it was the alleged robbers’ getaway car.

‘As the cops saw the vehicle being driven away immediately, they took it as belonging to the robbers and opened indiscriminate fire on the car,’ a police official said.

Mr Ahmed managed to drive to the gate of a relative’s home before losing control of the car and crashing.

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A nine-year-old girl from Perth was killed by police after being mistaken for an armed robber

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The girl was travelling with her family through Chakwal, in the Punjab province of Pakistan

The family were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital, where Hania was pronounced dead.

Her father and brother were later transferred to Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, where they underwent surgery. Her mother was uninjured.

Pakistani Association WA general secretary Asim Chaudhry has confirmed the news of Hania’s death.

‘This news is very shocking, especially the death of the nine-year-old,’ he told 9News.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Local media reported that District Police Officer (DPO) Chakwal Kashif Zulfiqar visited the family and promised swift legal action against those found guilty.

‘It was a highly shocking incident. A JIT has been constituted which will present its findings soon,’ the DPO told Dawn.

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Pakistani Association WA general secretary Asim Chaudhry said the news was ‘shocking’

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Daily Mail the family is receiving support.

‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who was killed and to two Australians injured in Pakistan,’ they said.

‘We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.’

It is understood Australian embassies cannot intervene in local judicial matters, conduct investigations, or pay funeral or repatriation costs.

SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15898017/Perth-girl-shot-dead-police-Pakistan.html