Desperation: Child ‘sold’ by parents recovered

The ‘buyer’ had agreed to pay Rs60,000, but paid only Rs10,000, says father.

SHEIKHUPURA: Police on Monday recovered a three-year-old, who was reportedly sold by his parents a day ago to “pay a loan”. Imran Ashraf, a resident of Nawankot, told police that he had handed over his son to a ‘volunteer’ for Rs10,000. He said though the ‘buyer’ had agreed to pay Rs60,000, but paid only Rs10,000. Ashraf said a day later, he decided to get the child back. He said when he approached the ‘volunteer’, he refused to help. He said he then informed the police and sought their help for the recovery of the child. When contacted, police said the ‘volunteer’ told them that he wanted to give the child to an orphanage. He said he had initially refused to return the child thinking his parents might sell him to someone else who would harm the child. He said he was concerned for the child’s safety.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2013.