The Punjab, Pakistan Police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) shot at a family traveling in a car on Saturday. The family was traveling to a wedding, but Pakistani police thought they were terrorist.
According to reports, the couple identified as Khalil and his wife Nabeela along with their children Areeba, Umair Khalil, Muniba, Hadia and their driver Zeeshan were on board the vehicle when the incident took place near Sahiwal Toll Plaza.
Khalil, Nabeela, their teenage daughter Areeba, and the driver Zeeshan are among the dead. Umair, sustained bullet wounds, while Muniba was injured from broken glass. Hadia is the only one that was not injured, a Pakistani news outlet reports.
The CTD was acting on a tip that the family was a terrorist cell. The CTD opened fire on the vehicle at the Sahiwal toll plaza.
The CTD first declared that the victims were child kidnappers, they later retracted and labeled the family as terrorists.
Prime Minister Imran Khan released the following statement:
“Still shocked at seeing the traumatized children who saw their parents shot before their eyes. Any parent would be shocked as they would think of their own children in such a traumatic situation. These children will now be fully looked after by the state as its responsibility.”
Inspector General of Police Punjab Amjad Javed Salimi has formed a four-member Joint Investigation Team to probe the incident.
