PESHAWAR, Nov 21: A juvenile court here on Wednesday allowed bail to a nine-year-old boy arrested charged with firing at a police party.

The court presided over by district and sessions judge, Ziauddin Khattak, directed that the accused-applicant, Asfandyar, should be handed over to his father, Said Akber, on furnishing two sureties of Rs 50,000 each.

The boy, who could not even hold a pistol, was accused of firing at a police party. An FIR was registered by the officials of Bana Mari police on Sept 12, 2002, under section 324/ 353/402/458/34 of Pakistan Penal Code.

The boy was arrested by the police and charged. The police claimed that some outlaws were planning a robbery and had gathered near a house when the police reached the spot. The police stated that the outlaws fired at the police and made good their escape. However, the accused-applicant, they claimed was arrested on the spot.

The boy’s family was reportedly not informed about his arrest. His father and other relatives continued searching for him until they found out that he had been arrested.

Advocate Shahjehan Khan appeared for the applicant and contended that the boy had been falsely implicated in the instant case. He argued that he was a juvenile and entitled to bail. He contended that under section 83 of the Pakistan Penal Code no act should be considered an offence if committed by a child up to 12 years of age and was of insufficient maturity.

The counsel contended that the boy was too young to commit such a crime.