9-Month-Old Boy Arrested For Attempted Murder In Pakistan
A 9-month-old boy has appeared in court in Pakistan on charges of planning a murder, threatening police and interfering in state affairs.
By Sadho Ram — 05 Apr 2014, 12:36 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Pakistan Judge Frees 9-Month-Old Baby In Attempted Murder Case
In this photo taken on April 3, 2014 shows a Pakistani lawyer gets thumb impression of a nine month old boy on legal papers for bail in Lahore, Pakistan.
Image via twimg.comA Pakistani lawyer says a judge has freed a nine-month old boy accused of attempting to murder police in the eastern city of Lahore after police withdrew charges. Lawyer Irfan Tarar says the judge announced the decision after Saturday's court hearing during which police said it had dropped the charge against the boy.
ndtv.com
He says police had registered the case against the toddler and his family members without investigating the matter and the judge had sought an explanation. The toddler was brought to court last Friday as part of an investigation relating to an incident where residents in his neighborhood clashed with police.
nytimes.com
While Many Children His Age Are Still Learning How To Crawl, A 9-Month-Old Boy In Pakistan Was Arrested For Attempted Murder And Interfering In State Affairs
Baby Mohammad Musa along with his father and other family members was arrested for throwing rocks at gas company officials in the working-class Ahata Thanedaran neighbourhood on February 1, the family's lawyer Chaudhry Irfan Sadiq told AFP on Friday.
telegraph.co.ukInspector Kashif Muhammad, Who Attended The Alleged Crime Scene, Wrote In His Report That It Was A Case Of Attempted Murder
Pakistan police use their communication radio in Lahore on March 19, 2012. Image not related, used for illustration purposes only.
Image via yimg.comAccording to FIR, registered on February 1, Musa ‘attacked’ the staff of a state-run gas company when they raided at his home in Muslim Town. The FIR alleged him of also being involved in a murder attempt at police officials and pelting them with stones.
nation.com.pk
Inspector Kashif Muhammad has since been suspended.
telegraph.co.ukAppearing In A Packed Court Room With Others Accused In The Case On Thursday, The Baby Was Seen Crying As His Grandfather Held Him On His Shoulder
A nine-month-old boy has appeared in court in Pakistan on charges of planning a murder, threatening police and interfering in state affairs
Image via bbcimg.co.ukAppearing in a packed court room with around 30 others accused in the case on Thursday, Musa was seen crying as his grandfather Muhammad Yasin, a 50-year-old labourer, held him on his shoulder.
dawn.comHis grandfather Muhammad Yasin later fed him milk from a bottle while fielding questions from reporters.
"Everyone in the court was saying 'How can such a small child be implicated in any case'? What kind of police do we have?" the 50-year-old labourer said.
telegraph.co.ukThe Charge Is In Direct Contradiction With Pakistan's Minimum Age Of Criminal Responsibility, Which Was Raised From Seven To 12 Years In 2013 Except In Terrorism Cases
Mr Yasin Accused The Police Of Fabricating The Charges Because They Were Colluding With A Rival Party Who Wanted To See The Accused Evicted From Their Land
"The police and gas company officials came without any notice and started removing gas meters from houses. Residents started protesting and blocked the road but ended the protest when senior police officers arrived in the area and assured them that no injustice would be done."But later we found out that cases have been filed against us," he added.
telegraph.co.ukThe Boy Was Granted Bail By The Judge, Though He Will Have To Appear At The Next Hearing On 12 April
Judge Rafaqat Ali Qamar ordered the inspector to be suspended and granted the child bail, though he will have to appear at the next hearing on April 12. But Mr Sadiq, the lawyer, said the charges against the child should have been dropped.
"The court should have simply referred the minor's case to the High Court to drop the charges against the innocent child and acquit him from the case," Sadiq told AFP. "This case also exposes the incompetence of our police force and the way they are operating," he added.
telegraph.co.ukThe Murder Charges Against The Baby Have Alarmed Punjab's CM Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif
He has asked for clarification from the province's inspector-general of police and demanded "stern action" against the officials who registered the case.
The Naming Of Family Members In Police Reports Was A Common Tactic Employed By Complainants In Order To Exert Pressure On Parties With Whom They Were Involved In A Dispute, Said A Supreme Court Lawyer
Feisal Naqvi, the supreme court lawyer, said: "It's not common for babies to be accused but it is common for other family members to be accused. What happens then is that vendettas are going on so everyone gets picked up and gets chucked in jail."