FAISALABAD: A former employee of the government-run Allied Hospital in Faisalabad confessed before the police that she had been involved in the buying and selling of newborn babies.
During an investigation, the police raided after a tip-off regarding the sale of a child and arrested an accused, Khursheeda Bibi.
Khursheeda confessed before the police of having been involved in the sale and purchase of almost 1,200 newborn babies over the period of past 30 years.
She said as many as three gynaecologist and medical superintendent (MS) of the hospital were also involved in the illegal business in which they made the parties sign stamp papers. The male newborns were sold each for Rs300,000 while the female newborns were traded for Rs200,000 each, she added.
“The money we made by selling these newborns was also be spent on the [hospital’s] ward,” she told the police. “I would only get the commission [on each sale].”
Police said Khursheeda and her husband also sold illegitimate newborns.
A case was filed against the accused and she was sent on judicial remand.
When the hospital management was approached, they denied Khursheeda Bibi’s claims of doctors, gynaecologists or the MS being involved in the illegal trade.
The Allied Hospital MS Dr Khurram Altaf confirmed that Khursheeda Bibi was a former employer of the medical facility. He said she was working in the outdoor ward but was suspended after a copy of the FIR against her was received.
Lyallpur Town SP Maaz Ahmed told media that the police were investigating the allegations and verifying the veracity of her claims. The police will proceed further if the claims are found to be true, he added.