LAHORE: A sessions court threw out on Saturday a case of attempted murder registered against a toddler and issued show-cause notice to a police officer for including the boy`s name in the case which also carried charges of attacking policemen.

At the outset of the hearing, investigation officer of the Muslim Town police station submitted a `discharge report` to the court, seeking cancellation of the FIR `to the extent` of nine-monthold Mohammad Musa.

The counsel representing Musa`s family withdrew a petition for bail and the court dropped the case against the boy.

Musa, his father and other members of his family were booked under section 324 of the PPC after they allegedly pelted with stones a team comprising police personnel and staff of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL).

The team was visiting the family`s house on a complaint of gas theft.

The matter came under spotlight when Musa`s grandfather Yasin produced the boy in the court of an additional district and sessions judge for grant of prearrest ball.

After the issue was highlighted by the media, the government and police authorities took notice of the matter and an ASI was suspended.

Blackmail alleged After an inquiry into the issue by a senior officer, the police authorities ordered that the boy`s name be removed from the FIR.

They claimed that Musa`s family had misled the court because even though Musa`s name was in the FIR the charges of attacking the raiding party pertained to some other members of the family.

Police said the family produced Musa in the court to `blackmail the authorities` Agencies add: The case drew international attention and sparked criticism of the country`s criminal justice system, after the toddler was photographed crying desperately while being fingerprinted in court. His grandfather was later seen trying to comfort him with a milk bottle.

The charges were in direct violation of the country`s minimum age of criminal responsibility, which was raised from seven to 12 years in 2013, except in terrorism cases.

Musa`s grandfather accused police of fabricating the charges because, according to him, they were colluding with a rival party who wanted to see his family evicted from their land and had obtained an order to remove their gas connections.

Yasin and four others, including his son Imran, are on bail in the case and the charges against them remain.