The principal of the Perth school attended by a nine-year-old girl who was shot dead in Pakistan has described her as a “happy, bubbly, friendly girl”.
Hania Ahmed was fatally shot last week after local police mistook her family for armed robbers.
Australian Islamic College school principal Abdullah Khan said he hoped there was a “fair investigation” into how the fatal shooting unfolded.
“Obviously we can’t get little Hania back. That’s a very tragic loss for the family and for the community,” he told ABC Radio Perth.
Adeel and Hania Ahmed were caught in a gunfight while on holiday in the city of Chakwal. (Supplied)
“She was a happy, bubbly, friendly girl who used to befriend people quite easily, and she was excited to come to school every day.
“The mum, in particular, was in a state of extreme shock, and was not even able to speak for a couple of days.”
Gunfight broke out
Hania and her family had been visiting relatives on a holiday in the city of Chakwal, when robbers held them at gunpoint and demanded their jewellery.
The situation evolved into a gunfight when local police happened upon the scene.
The robbers fled, and amid the chaos the family attempted to leave too, getting into their car to drive away. But police said they mistook the victims for the suspects and opened fire.
Hania, who was in year 4 at school, was killed, while her father and brother were wounded.
Brother in hospital
Mr Khan said he had spoken with Hania’s father, Adeel Ahmed.
“The father has recovered well. The brother is still in hospital and is recovering, but in a stable condition,” he said.
Abdullah Khan is the principal of the Australian Islamic College, which Hania attended. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
“They plan to stay until he has fully recovered and then return to Perth.”
In a statement, Chakwal District Police said an officer involved in the incident had been arrested and an investigation was underway.
“To ensure a transparent and impartial inquiry into the incident, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been established … the team is meticulously reviewing all aspects of the case,” a spokesperson said.
The police said the two robbers had been killed in a subsequent “police encounter”.
Counselling is being offered to students at the Australian Islamic College in Kewdale after Hania’s death. (ABC News: Cason Ho )
Mr Khan said his school held a special assembly on Friday afternoon to brief Hania’s peers, and counselling services were being offered to students and staff.
