Army officer adopts infant girl rescued after being buried alive

Major Waqas, an army officer in Risalpur, visited hospital after learning of baby's plight and legally adopted her

An army officer has adopted an infant girl who was buried alive in the country's northwest, according to state media reports on Saturday.

The baby, who was saved by emergency responders, was later taken to a local hospital for treatment. The incident occurred in Nowshera, where the infant was buried alive, a tragic case that drew widespread attention across social media and Pashto news channels.

The child was rescued by the Rescue 1122 team, a Pakistani emergency response service, who intervened just in time.

Major Waqas, an army officer attending a course in Risalpur, learned of the baby's plight and visited the hospital to check on her condition. After completing the necessary legal procedures, Major Waqas adopted the infant through the civil court.

The report from Radio Pakistan did not provide details about the identity of those responsible for burying the child, how the authorities were alerted, or the circumstances surrounding the girl's rescue.

Cases of abandoned newborns, particularly girls, are not rare in Pakistan, where social stigma, gender discrimination, and fear of backlash often drive people to take desperate measures.

To combat this, the Edhi Foundation, one of Pakistan’s largest humanitarian organisations, has set up cradles outside its offices in various cities, encouraging parents to leave unwanted babies there rather than abandon or harm them.

The case has sparked significant public discussion, with many praising Major Waqas for his decision to adopt the child, highlighting both the tragedy of the situation and the officer's compassion.