A nine-month-old baby boy was arrested and has been accused of attempted murder by the Pakistani government. He is currently out on bail.

Muhammad Mosa Khan, 9-months-old, was arrested alongside over 30 of his family and neighbors in the city of Lahore who began to protest after police began raiding their homes. The incident began as a squabble over gas or electricity availability, though the exact reason is unclear. It ended in Muhammad being booked and fingerprinted in prison.

9-Month-Old Accused Of Attempted Murder

Local police claim that the group, including the baby, had tried to kill officers by throwing stones and bricks. In court last week, Muhammad appeared sitting on his grandfather’s lap, drinking from his bottle. After being awarded bail, his case was adjourned until an April 12 court date. At his hearing, the judge who granted him bail reportedly told officers to “record his statement” – a mystifying request. That said, it is true that the judge in question did not have the authority to dismiss the charges against the boy.

The police maintain their position that they were right to arrest the baby boy, but the public and officials alike are furious and bewildered by the arrest. In fact, in Pakistan, Muhammad is not allowed to be charged and found criminally responsible as he is only 9-months-old, a far cry from the minimum age of 12-years-old.

Meanwhile, outrage has encouraged the Punjab’s Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to suspend the officials responsible for the arrest and charges, but the charges themselves have not been dropped.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong