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Nine month-old baby in court on attempted murder charges in Pakistan

Infant was allegedly booked for his 'involvement' in incident

Heather Saul
Monday 07 April 2014 09:58 BST
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(Geo TV)

A nine-month-old baby has appeared in a Pakistan court along with other family members on charges of planning a murder, threatening police and interfering in state affairs, it has been reported.

Baby Muhammad Mosa Khan was seen sat on his grandfather’s knee in court and apparently having his fingerprints taken before a hearing.

A Lahore police report claimed the suspects tried to murder officers by throwing stones at them during a raid on houses who owed money for gas bills, according to The Express Tribune.

The report lodged a complaint against the whole of Muhammad Yaseen's family, which unilaterally included his nine-month-old grandson whom he brought with him to court.

“He was nominated in the FIR so I took the child to court,” Mr Yassen said.

Judge Rafaqat Ali granted bail to the “accused” and the case has been adjourned until 12 April, Lahore media reported.

A child under the age of seven cannot be convicted of an offence under Pakistan’s penal code. Police have since claimed they were unaware that Yaseen's son Imran, who was among the accused, had a child.

The assistant superintendent who filed the charges has since been removed from their position, Senior Superintendent of Police Rana Jabbar told The Times of India.

Mr Jabbar said: “A nine month old can never commit such a crime. This incident took place due to sheer misunderstanding on the police’s part and was not done on purpose.”

Punjab's Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has asked for clarification over the incident and demanded "stern action" against those who registered the case.

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