Smuggling of innocence

In a disturbing reminder of the dark underbelly of organised crime in Pakistan, the Federal Investigation Agency recently apprehended five suspects — including two female doctors — who allegedly attempted to smuggle a nine-month-old infant from Karachi to Mozambique. This case is an indictment of a deeply entrenched smuggling mafia that thrives on exploiting the most vulnerable in our society.

Child smuggling in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon, but its rise in frequency and boldness should ring alarm bells in every government corridor. Infants and children are trafficked not just for illegal adoptions but also for forced labour, organ trade and even more sinister purposes. The fact that this attempted smuggling involved a foreign destination highlights the transnational nature of this criminal network.

For years, Pakistan has lacked an effective national mechanism to combat child trafficking. Coordination between hospitals, NADRA, immigration authorities and law enforcement remains patchy at best. Investigations often stop at the lowest rung of the ladder, while those who orchestrate and profit from these crimes operate untouched.

This must change. The FIA must be empowered not only to arrest, but to dismantle. That means going beyond the immediate suspects — tracking money trails and identifying complicit officials along with exposing the networks behind such trafficking rings. The involvement of doctors in this case must serve as a wake-up call for regulatory bodies to audit and monitor professionals more rigorously. Moreover, there is a dire need for stronger laws and tighter implementation of child protection protocols.

Our children are not commodities. If we fail to act with urgency and resolve, we risk letting an entire generation fall into the hands of those who view them only as profit.