Pakistani judge throws out attempted murder case against 9-month-old baby
Judge dismisses charges bought by police against nine month old after they provoke international ridicule but attempted murder case against 11 family members continues
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 12 April, 2014, 3:10pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 12 April, 2014, 3:10pm
Reuters in Lahore
a Pakistani lawyer takes a thumbprint from nine-month-old toddler Musa Khan as his grandfather Muhammad Yasin holds the crying boy in Lahore on April 3. Photo: AFP
A Pakistani judge threw out charges of attempted murder against a nine-month-old baby on Saturday, lawyers said, in a case that cast a spotlight on Pakistan’s dysfunctional justice system.
Baby Musa Khan appeared in court in the city of Lahore, sitting on his grandfather’s lap and drinking from a bottle of milk.
He and his adult relatives were charged this month with attempting to murder a policeman after his family clashed with police and gas company workers trying to collect overdue bills.
Police registered a case against the whole family.
“Police told the court that the nomination of Musa in the case of attacking police and gas company officials was a human error and Musa is not required,” defence lawyer Irfan Sadiq told reporters.
The baby’s grandfather, Muhammad Yasin, and his three sons still face the charges.
Pictures taken at an earlier court hearing of Musa crying as he was being fingerprinted provoked widespread ridicule and provincial officials called for an inquiry.
