Police foil attempt to sell newborn

Arrest a lady health worker, looking for child’s mother

RAWALPINDI: Police arrested a lady health worker, Noreen, who allegedly tried to sell a two-day old newly born baby for Rs0.15 million in the Arya Mohalla locality within the remits of Waris Khan police station.

SSP investigation Muhammad Faisal shared with The Express Tribune that Rescue 15 received two calls yesterday. One was a phone call from a citizen named Omair who informed the police that a lady health worker named Noreen has a newborn child whom she wants to sell to his childless sister for Rs 0.15 million. He said that with police’s action, this illegal work can be stopped.

The second call was made by Noreen who alleged that Omair’s childless sister forcibly wants to snatch daughter of a lady named Aqsa from her.

SSP investigation said police reached the site from where the call on 15 was received and took Noreen and the child into protective custody.

Later, after verifying facts, Waris Khan police station registered case against Noreen under various sections of the law including human trafficking.

The FIR alleged that Noreen was found involved in the offense of selling a child for money.

The lady health worker however, said that she helped a woman named Aqsa. She said that Aqsa was in labour pains when she came to her home late in the night. Noreen said she helped her deliver and saved the lives of both mother and daughter.

However, she said, Aqsa was distraught because she had a girl because her husband did not want a daughter. Noreen said the left her child with her. Meanwhile, she claimed that Omair’s sister got the news that she has a newborn girl and tried to take her. “I said there is formal procedure of acquiring custody of a child. On my refusal to handover the girl, they made a false call to the police to trap me,” Noreen claimed.

SSP Faisal said that the case was being investigated from various aspects including human trafficking.

He said that there were doubts if a gang was behind getting women to bear children with the sole purpose of selling them. If it proves true, police will trace and undo the nefarious network, he said.

The police were still searching for the mother of the baby who will give further information, SSP Faisal said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2019.