India, June 16 -- A nine-year-old Australian girl died in Pakistan after police allegedly opened fire on the vehicle in which her family was travelling, mistaking it for that of armed robbery suspects following a hostage ordeal.

The incident occurred in the eastern Pakistani city of Chakwal on June 10.

The child, identified as Hania Ahmed, died on the spot, while her father, Adeel Ahmed, 39, and 10-year-old brother, Aafan Ahmed, sustained critical gunshot injuries and remain under treatment.

According to local police official Sajjad Hussain, personnel from the Crime Control Department (CCD) mistook the family's vehicle for that of suspected criminals and opened fire, Arab News reported.

Police initially registered a case of murder and...