Baby in hiding after cop-assault charge

Relatives of a nine-month-old boy charged with attempted murder in Pakistan have taken him into hiding.

In a case that has thrown a spotlight on Pakistan's dysfunctional criminal justice system, baby Musa Khan appeared in court in Lahore last week charged, along with his father and grandfather, in connection with the stoning of police and gas company workers by a mob protesting gas supply cuts and price increases.

"The police are vindictive," the grandfather, Muhammad Yasin, said. "Now they are trying to settle the issue on personal grounds, that's why I sent my grandson to Faisalabad for protection."

The baby is out on bail and due to appear again on April 12 but Yasin said he was not sure that he would take him to court.

"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 was apparently charged because a police assistant sub-inspector complained that Musa's entire family assaulted him and injured his head.

The provincial justice minister, Rana Sanaullah Khan, said the provincial chief minister had ordered an investigation into the charges and had ordered the police to take action against those who booked the infant.