Nine Month Old Pakistani Baby Accused Of Attempt To Murder, Appears In Court

A nine-month-old baby has appeared in a court in Lahore, Pakistan after the local police charged him and 30 other men of planning murder, threatening a police team and interfering in state affairs, reports The News, Pakistan. To make the case even more bizarre, the Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali granted bail to the baby, Muhammad Mosa Khan till April 12 and directed the police to “record his statement”, according to a Times Of India report.

The bail was agreed upon after the father of the accused submitted a surety bond of Rs. 50,000 ($510) to the court. All the while, ignorant of all the things happening around him, baby Mosa Khan was sitting in lap of his father, Ami who also happens to be a co-accused in the case.

There are conflicting reports on the incident that lead to the arrest and the subsequent appearance of the baby in the court. According to one report, the accused tried to murder security officers by pelting them with stones. Another report claims that the group was arrested after they were protesting against electricity shortage.

The infant’s counsel has asked the court to quash the case against the baby under PPC (Pakistani Penal Code) section 82 where any criminal act committed by a child under the age of seven is not punishable. While the local court decided to grant baby Mosa bail, the judge expressed his inability to dismiss the case against him as it was not under his jurisdiction to do so. The judge clarified that only a local magistrate has the powers to completely drop the case against baby Mosa.

Earlier, Muslim Town assistant sub inspector (ASI) Kashif had booked the nine-month old Muhammad Mosa Khan, his father Ami and thirty odd other people under Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) sections 324 (Attempt to murder with intention or knowledge) and section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).

Punjab province Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz has in the meantime learnt about the absurd case and has sought a report from officials clarifying the matter. He has also issued directions to take stern action against officials who registered a case against a nine-month-old baby in the first place.

Meanwhile ASI Kashif, the police officer directly involved in the arrest of the baby has been suspended. Have you come across any other ludicrous such cases where a baby has been accused of such a heinous crime?

[Image via Geo News Screenshot]