PESHAWAR, Nov 5: Two minor children, accused of drug trafficking, were acquitted by a court in the Nowshera district on Monday.

Taking exception to the detention of the two minors - Saadia, 4, and Aqeel, 8, - the court of district and sessions judge, Mohammad Ayaz Khan also served show-cause notice on a customs inspector Amanullah Khan, asking him to clarify his position why proceedings should not be initiated against him for keeping the children in illegal detention.

The court acquitted the two children under section 265-K of CrPC, observing that under sections 82 and 83 of PPC nothing was an offence done by a child under seven years of age or done by a child who had not attained sufficient maturity. The presiding officer reprimanded the policemen for bringing the accused, Aqeel, in hand-cuffs.

The two children were arrested with their respective mothers by a customs mobile squad near Nowshera while they were travelling in a public transport bus on July 31. The customs officials claimed that the mothers had wrapped 2 kg each of heroin around the bodies of the two children due to which they had to nominate them in the FIR along with the mothers.

The mothers, Shehnaz and Kulsoom, residents of Gujranwala and Sheikhupura, will face trial for the offence.

Bail application for the two children was filed by Advocate Noor Alam Khan, Chairman, Free Legal Aid Cell, Voice of Prisoners.

However, when the case was taken up for hearing on Monday, he contended before the bench that as challan of the case had been submitted, therefore it would be appropriate to discharge the two minors from facing trial instead of releasing them on bail.