Idiotic Pakistan Finally Drops Attempted Murder Charges Against Baby

Nine-month-old Musa Khan 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/world/asia/pakistan-drops-attempted-murder-charges-against-baby.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Idiotic Pakistan Finally Drops Attempted Murder Charges Against Baby

Idiotic Pakistan Finally Drops Attempted Murder Charges Against Baby

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