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Pakistan Drops Attempted Murder Charges Against Baby Pakistan Baby Won’t Face Prison Time
(about 1 hour later)
HONG KONG — Nine-month-old Musa Khan will not be going to prison on attempted murder charges. A 9-month-old Pakistani boy will not be going to prison on attempted murder charges.
The Pakistani baby drew international attention in recent days when the local police took the unusual step of charging him along with four adults in connection with a violent protest in Lahore in February. Critics say the charges reflected the tendency of the Pakistani police to lodge exaggerated complaints against poor families. The baby, Musa Khan, became the focus of international attention in recent days when the local police took the unusual step of charging him along with four adults in connection with a violent protest in Lahore in February.
On Saturday, though, Musa was spared incarceration after the police withdrew the charge against him, the baby’s lawyer, Irfan Tarar, told The Associated Press. Critics say the charges reflected the tendency of the Pakistani police to lodge exaggerated complaints against poor families.
The case against the baby led to widespread ridicule being heaped against the Pakistani legal system, particularly after little Musa was photographed crying while being fingerprinted — and he then had to be comforted with a milk bottle. His family subsequently moved him out of Lahore to Faisalabad, citing safety reasons. On Saturday, though, the police withdrew the charges against Musa, the baby’s lawyer, Irfan Tarar, told The Associated Press.
Musa was charged along with his father and grandfather for allegedly being part of a group of slum residents who threw stones at gas company workers who were trying to disconnect homes from gas service for nonpayment of bills. The case against the baby led to widespread ridicule being heaped against the Pakistani legal system, particularly after little Musa was photographed crying while being fingerprinted — and he then had to be comforted with a bottle of milk. His family subsequently moved him out of Lahore to Faisalabad, citing safety reasons.
Musa, along with his father and grandfather, was accused of being part of a group of slum residents who threw stones at gas company workers as they tried to disconnect gas service from homes where the owners had not paid their bills.
The outcry over the charges led Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab Province and the brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to order an inquiry into the matter.The outcry over the charges led Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab Province and the brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to order an inquiry into the matter.
The child’s lawyer, Mr. Tarar, had argued that children under age seven cannot be prosecuted under Pakistani law. Musa’s lawyer, Mr. Tarar, had argued that children under 7 years old cannot be prosecuted under Pakistani law.
The nine-month-old had been free on bail pending a Saturday hearing in which a judge allowed for the dismissal of the case against Musa. Musa had been free on bail pending Saturday’s hearing, during which the judge allowed for the dismissal of the case against him.