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CHAKWAL: A departmental inquiry into the June 10-11 firing incident in Chakwal, in which nine-year-old Australian-Pakistani national Hania Ahmed was killed and her father and brother were seriously injured, has held a Crime Control Department (CCD) constable responsible for opening indiscriminate fire at the family’s car without authorisation. The 200-page inquiry report, submitted to the court of Magistrate Rehana Kausar, states that the accused constable allegedly opened fire on the vehicle “with the intention to kill” innocent civilians, without the permission of his superior officer and beyond the scope of his assigned duty. Hania was killed while her father, Adil Ahmed, and 10-year-old brother, Affan Ahmed, sustained serious bullet injuries in the incident. The incident occurred during the night between June 10 and 11 near the CCD police station in Chakwal. According to police, two armed men were allegedly attempting to rob the Australian-Pakistani family when the CCD constable mistakenly opened fire on their vehicle, believing the suspects were fleeing in it. The inquiry report, however, rejected the constable’s claim that he had fired in self-defence against the alleged robbers. According to the inquiry report, the accused constable told investigators that he was standing near the main gate of the CCD police station when he heard a commotion and came outside. He claimed that he saw a white car parked in the street and two armed men allegedly involved in a robbery. He said one of the suspects fired at him, prompting him to return fire. He further claimed that he took cover behind a wall and that the vehicle then sped towards Islamia Chowk. He allegedly followed the car after taking a lift on a private motorcycle. The inquiry report said Duty Officer Inspector Jahanzeb Khan rejected this account. According to the inspector, the constable fired the official rifle without seeking permission from him or any other senior officer and subsequently pursued the vehicle on a private motorcycle without authorisation. Three other police officials present at the station at the time also reportedly corroborated the inspector’s statement. The inquiry team concluded that the constable’s claim that he had fired at the alleged robbers in self-defence was contrary to the facts established during the investigation. According to the report, investigators recovered 14 pistol bullet casings and 13 casings from a Kalashnikov-type weapon from the scene. Statements of 34 witnesses have been incorporated into the inquiry report, including that of eyewitness Ahmed Nawaz, a resident of Chakwal’s Circular Road area, where the incident took place. Nawaz told investigators that he was returning after attending a funeral prayer when, upon reaching the CCD police station, he saw an armed constable carrying a Kalashnikov fire repeatedly at a car travelling ahead. He later learned that the family travelling in the vehicle was related to him. The inquiry report also states that the final opinion of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency regarding the bullets fired from the weapons, the bullets recovered from Hania, Adil and Affan, and the blood samples is still awaited. A police officer said the formal trial in the case is expected to commence in September following the August judicial recess. The inquiry report identifies the two alleged robbers as Muhammad Abbas and Muhammad Fayyaz. Police said both were previously involved in criminal cases, with Abbas facing 15 cases and Fayyaz 12. According to the CCD, both men were killed on the night of June 11 in an alleged police encounter in Chakwal. Police claimed they were killed by firing from their own accomplices. Post-mortem reports, however, showed that both men had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. A CCD official said Abbas had also been arrested in connection with two robbery cases in Chakwal in 2021. The inquiry report states that before allegedly targeting the Australian-Pakistani family, the two suspects had robbed two shops. Following their deaths, the shop owners and a woman who had allegedly been robbed of her gold earrings identified them from photographs, according to the report. Adil Ahmed, a resident of Dhudial village in Chakwal, has been living in Perth, Australia, with his family for several years. He is an engineer, while his wife is a dentist. Hania was a Year 4 student at the Australian Islamic College in Perth. The family had arrived in Pakistan in May. Adil and his wife subsequently travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, leaving their children with their grandparents. They returned from Saudi Arabia on June 10. On the same day, the family rented a car from a rent-a-car business in Dhudial for 10 days to travel during their stay in Pakistan. That night, Adil’s father-in-law, retired Colonel Muhammad Khan, hosted a dinner at his residence. The family left for home in the rented vehicle after attending the gathering, after which the firing incident occurred. According to Hania’s post-mortem report, the nine-year-old suffered 11 injury marks on different parts of her body, including bullet wounds. Doctors who conducted the post-mortem examination concluded that she died from massive blood loss caused by deep firearm injuries.

MUZAFFARABAD: Polling is underway in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. Voting started at 8am and will continue until 5pm. Elections are being held today in 13 constituencies across three districts of Mirpur division — Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. Polling has started at several stations. However, voting has yet to begin at some locations because voters have not arrived. In Kotli, polling is underway at Polling Station No. 38 in Aghar Colony. Voting has not started at polling stations 36 and 37 due to the absence of voters. Candidates cast votes Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, contesting from LA-7 in Bhimber, cast his vote at Polling Station No. 161. Speaking after voting, Farooq said voter turnout was expected to be higher in rural areas than in cities. He also urged women to leave their homes after completing household responsibilities and exercise their right to vote. Farooq expressed satisfaction with the law and order situation and the arrangements made for the elections in Bhimber. PPP confident of victory Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary General Muhammad Humayun Khan said the party was confident of securing a strong victory in the Azad Kashmir elections. He said the party’s electoral symbol, the arrow, represented the Kashmiri people’s rights to governance, ownership and employment. Humayun Khan said the PPP would continue to raise the voice of the people of Kashmir at every forum. He also called for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission, describing it as an important need. PPP Parliamentarians Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari also expressed confidence that voters in Azad Kashmir would support the PPP. He said the party had played an important role in establishing a parliamentary democratic system in Azad Kashmir. More than 1.4 million voters registered A total of 296 candidates are contesting the elections, including candidates from the PPP, PML-N, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and independent candidates. There are 1,401,439 registered voters across the 13 constituencies. The number includes 725,118 male voters and 675,628 female voters. A total of 2,454 polling stations have been established across Mirpur division. Mirpur district has 597 polling stations across four constituencies. Kotli has 1,107 stations across six constituencies, while 608 polling stations have been established in three constituencies of Bhimber. Officials urge voters to participate Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz and DIG Kamran Ali visited wards 16 and 17 of LA-3 to review the polling arrangements. Speaking to the media, Commissioner Mumtaz said polling was proceeding peacefully across all three districts from 8am. He urged voters to come out and cast their ballots without fear. He assured the public that the administration had arranged a peaceful environment for voters. Tight security arrangements Authorities have put in place extensive security measures for the elections. Azad Kashmir Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Mustafa Mughal warned that legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the voting process. AJK Chief Secretary Khushal Khan said the people of Azad Kashmir had rejected groups seeking to create disorder and had shown confidence in the democratic process. He said all state institutions were prepared to ensure peaceful elections.

Pakistan has strongly condemned recent remarks by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad warned New Delhi against any move that could increase tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The Foreign Office said Singh’s comments were provocative and irresponsible. It said the remarks misrepresented the internationally recognised position on the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan maintained that the Jammu and Kashmir issue remains on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. Islamabad said relevant UN resolutions remain an important part of the international framework surrounding the dispute. The Foreign Office said India could not change the disputed status of Kashmir through political statements. It also rejected what it described as attempts to present the issue as settled through unilateral claims. Pakistan warned India not to underestimate the resolve of its government and people. The Foreign Office said Islamabad was determined to protect the country’s interests and respond to any attempt at military adventurism. The statement also called on the international community to take notice of India’s policies. Pakistan specifically urged the United Nations to pay attention to what it described as India’s failure to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions. Islamabad said the Indian minister’s comments appeared to divert attention from other issues. The Foreign Office referred to Pakistan’s allegations concerning the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The statement also accused India of contributing to regional instability. Pakistan said threatening rhetoric could have wider consequences for peace and security in South Asia. The latest response came a day after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rejected Singh’s remarks. Asif said political statements from New Delhi could not alter the internationally recognised nature of the Kashmir dispute. Asif also criticised what he called intimidation and threatening rhetoric. He said Pakistan would not accept attempts to change established positions through unilateral declarations. Relations between Pakistan and India have remained tense for decades, with Kashmir continuing to be a major source of disagreement. Both countries claim the disputed region, while controlling separate parts of it. Pakistan has consistently called for the Kashmir issue to be resolved through the relevant international framework. Islamabad has also stressed the right of the Kashmiri people to determine their political future. The latest exchange of statements has further highlighted the deep differences between the two countries. Pakistan has urged India to avoid actions and statements that could worsen the regional security situation. Islamabad’s warning comes as both sides remain highly sensitive to developments involving Kashmir. Pakistani officials have repeatedly said that peace in South Asia requires dialogue and respect for international commitments.