Pakistani police drop murder case against baby
A 9-month-old Pakistani boy accused of attempting to murder police isn't headed to prison after police withdrew charges Saturday during a court hearing.
Lawyer Irfan Tarar, who represents the family of Muhammad Musa Khan, said police told the court Saturday that they didn't want to proceed with charges in the case, the Associated Press reported.
"The court has now ordered the police officer in charge of the investigation to explain why they wanted to arrest the baby in the first place, and under what law," Tarar said, according to the The Wall Street Journal.
Musa Khan was charged in early April in Lahore along with his father, grandfather and two dozen others after protesters in Muslim Town threw stones at police who accompanied gas company workers trying to collect overdue bills in February.
The toddler had also been charged with obstructing a public official from doing official work and attacking a public official who is doing his duty, Tarar said Saturday, according to the Journal.
The case gained attention this month after the boy was brought to court in his grandfather's arms. He cried when he was fingerprinted, then was granted bail.
A senior police official said that there had been "a misunderstanding" by police and that the officer who filed the charges was suspended. Under Pakistani law, no child younger than 7 can be charged with a crime.
The English-language newspaper Dawn said the case "exposes the level of efficiency and competence of the police and the lower judiciary."
After Musa Khan was granted bail, the family took the toddler into hiding. Muhammad Yasin told Reuters that he sent his grandson to the central city of Faisalabad "for protection."
"Police are vindictive," he said. "Now they are trying to settle the issue on personal grounds.
"There is immense pressure on me from various corners," Yasin added, without elaborating.
The chief minister of Punjab ordered an investigation and demanded "stern action" against the officials who brought the charges.