Couple arrested for selling daughter in Nowshera

Child was rescued few days ago from gang involved in kidnapping newborns

PESHAWAR: The police arrested a couple that had sold their newborn daughter to a gang that was involved in kidnapping and then selling newborn babies.

The couple was arrested during a raid conducted by the police in Pabbi, Nowshera on Sunday evening.

The man identified as Imtiaz and his wife Farhat Bibi sold the child to Wajeeha Yasmin for Rs94,000.

“A few days ago we arrested a gang of kidnappers which was engaged in kidnapping newborn babies from maternity homes and hospitals and then selling them to people who do not have children,” Cantt SP Kashif Zulfiqar told The Express Tribune. “We had rescued a baby which was being sold for Rs300,000. When we tried to return the child to her parents, we found out that the child had actually been sold by them for Rs94,000.”

He added Rs77,000 was also recovered from the possession of the accused.

The couple had five daughters. When the sixth daughter was born, Imtiaz decided to sell her so they could make some money.

A police official told The Express Tribune that the accused, Imtiaz, who frequently used drugs, sold his daughter to Yasmin, the ring leader who was already active in child abduction and trafficking cases. “The baby was bought for Rs94,000 and was then being sold for Rs300,000 to
another man, who was to sell her to another man.”

Yasmin was arrested by the K-P police a few days ago. She was earlier arrested by the Islamabad police in a similar case but was later released on bail. In that case she, along with other gang members, was found involved in the trade of children.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2016.