Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged authorities in Pakistan to look into the fatal shooting of an Australian girl who was vacationing with her family.
Nine-year-old Hania Ahmed and her relatives were taken hostage at gunpoint by armed robbers inside their rental car in the northern city of Chakwal, located in Punjab province, on June 10.
According to Punjab police, the suspects shot at a police officer, sparking a gunfight.
A police officer, believing the suspects were escaping in the family's car, "mistakenly" discharged his weapon, killing the nine-year-old and injuring her father and older brother, police reported.
Punjab police stated that the suspects fired first at the officer, who has been taken into custody. However, the girl's father informed SBS Urdu that the police opened fire first.
"These circumstances do need to be examined. They need to be examined in a transparent way, so that everyone can know, the family, most importantly, but others as well," Albanese told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"Australia expects there to be transparency and a proper investigation of these circumstances," he added.
Punjab police noted that there was "absolutely no justification for deviating from our established protocols" and that they were conducting a "thorough and impartial investigation."
The girl's death has caused shock in both Australia and Pakistan.
Abdullah Khan, the principal of Hania's school in Perth, the Australian Islamic College, told the BBC that news of her passing was "traumatic" for her community.
Hania was very friendly, bubbly, and very social, Khan said.
"She had lots of friends, [and was] very respectful to teachers," he added. "She was loved by everyone."
Khan mentioned that he has been in contact with Hania's family, and the school is providing counselling support to staff and students.
"Especially the students in her class - they are distressed and in a state of shock," he said.
The Australian government is offering consular assistance to the family.