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Pakistani baby in hiding after being accused of attempted murder
Relatives of a nine-month-old baby charged with attempted murder in Pakistan have taken him into hiding, one said, in a case that has thrown a spotlight on Pakistan's criminal justice system.
Baby Musa Khan appeared in court in the city of Lahore last week, charged with attempted murder along with his father and grandfather.
It came after a mob protesting against price increases stoned police and gas company workers trying to collect overdue bills.
"Police are vindictive. Now they are trying to settle the issue on personal grounds, that's why I sent my grandson away for protection," the baby's grandfather, told Reporters.
The baby is on bail and due to appear at the next hearing on 12 April but the grandfather said he was not sure if he would take him to court for the case.
"There is immense pressure on me from various corners," he said.
At his first appearance in court last week, Musa cried while his fingerprints were taken by a court official.
Later, the baby sucked on a bottle of milk and tried to grab journalists' microphones as his grandfather spoke to the media.
"He does not even know how to pick up his milk bottle properly, how can he stone the police?" the baby's grandfather said.
The baby was apparently charged because an assistant inspector complained in a crime report that Musa's whole family beat him up and injured his head.
The case has once again highlighted the problems in Pakistan's police and justice system.
Poorly-trained and underpaid police are frequently accused of corruption and human rights abuses. Many are not even qualified to write a crime report.
Commanders say it is not their fault, pointing out that this year's budget gave the military about $6 billion and the police just $686 million.
Minister Rana Khan told reporters that he had ordered an investigation into the charges against Musa.
One policeman had been suspended, he said.
Relatives of a nine-month-old baby charged with attempted murder in Pakistan have taken him into hiding, one said, in a case that has thrown a spotlight on Pakistan's criminal justice system.
Baby Musa Khan appeared in court in the city of Lahore last week, charged with attempted murder along with his father and grandfather.
It came after a mob protesting against price increases stoned police and gas company workers trying to collect overdue bills.
"Police are vindictive. Now they are trying to settle the issue on personal grounds, that's why I sent my grandson away for protection," the baby's grandfather, told Reporters.
The baby is on bail and due to appear at the next hearing on 12 April but the grandfather said he was not sure if he would take him to court for the case.
"There is immense pressure on me from various corners," he said.
At his first appearance in court last week, Musa cried while his fingerprints were taken by a court official.
Later, the baby sucked on a bottle of milk and tried to grab journalists' microphones as his grandfather spoke to the media.
"He does not even know how to pick up his milk bottle properly, how can he stone the police?" the baby's grandfather said.
The baby was apparently charged because an assistant inspector complained in a crime report that Musa's whole family beat him up and injured his head.
The case has once again highlighted the problems in Pakistan's police and justice system.
Poorly-trained and underpaid police are frequently accused of corruption and human rights abuses. Many are not even qualified to write a crime report.
Commanders say it is not their fault, pointing out that this year's budget gave the military about $6 billion and the police just $686 million.
Minister Rana Khan told reporters that he had ordered an investigation into the charges against Musa.
One policeman had been suspended, he said.
Learn more about Pakistan here: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan
.