The family of a 9-month-old infant who was charged with attempted murder in Pakistan has taken him into hiding, a family member told Reuters on Tuesday.
Baby Mohammad Musa Khan was fingerprinted and booked in the city of Lahore last week, charged with attempted murder along with his father and grandfather who were allegedly part of a mob that threw rocks at gas company officials carrying out an anti-theft inspection in Lahore on Feb. 1.
“He does not even know how to pick up his milk bottle properly, how can he stone the police?” the baby’s grandfather, Muhammad Yasin, asked journalists at the hearing, Reuters reported.
“Police are vindictive. Now they are trying to settle the issue on personal grounds, that’s why I sent my grandson to Faisalabad for protection,” Mr. Yasin told Reuters, referring to a central Pakistani city.
The baby is on bail and due to appear in court on April 12, but his grandfather said he was not sure if he would take his grandson to the hearing.
The baby was apparently charged because inspector Kashif Muhammad complained in a crime report that Musa’s whole family had beaten him up.
Following media coverage of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed police to immediately suspend the inspector.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.