A Pakistani police officer has been stood down and arrested after mistakenly shooting dead a young Australian girl while on holiday with her family.
Australian-born Hania Ahmed and her family were visiting a relative at Chakwal, in Pakistan's Punjab province, when they were robbed while in their rental car late on Wednesday night (local time).
In a lengthy statement posted to X on Monday morning (Australian time), Punjab Police confirmed Crime Control Department officers intervened after the Perth family was taken hostage at gunpoint.
The suspects fired at a police officer, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
"In the ensuing chaos, the officer involved mistakenly assessed that the suspects were attempting to flee in the victims' vehicle and discharged his weapon," the statement said.
