LAHORE — Police have arrested a woman accused of kidnapping a 12-day-old infant from a government hospital in Lahore, ending a frantic search that gripped the local community.
Investigators say the suspect, who has no children of her own, allegedly befriended the mother inside the hospital ward before snatching the child while the family was distracted. The infant was recovered unharmed from the suspect’s residence late Tuesday night following a tip-off and a review of hospital surveillance footage.
The mother, still recovering from childbirth, had been preparing for a routine check-up when the suspect approached her, offering assistance. Staff at the hospital confirmed the woman had been seen loitering in the maternity wing for several hours, posing as a visitor.
“She played the role of a helpful stranger,” said a senior police official involved in the case. “By the time the family realized the baby was gone, she had already cleared the hospital exit.”
The incident has sparked fresh debate regarding security protocols at public healthcare facilities. While hospitals are meant to be safe havens, the ease with which an unauthorized person navigated the maternity ward has left families questioning the oversight of hospital administration.
The suspect remains in custody. Police are currently determining if she acted alone or had assistance in planning the abduction. She faces charges of kidnapping under the Pakistan Penal Code, which carries severe penalties for crimes involving minors.
For now, the infant has been reunited with his parents. The hospital administration has promised an internal inquiry into how security was breached, though for the parents, the focus remains on the child’s recovery.
“We are just relieved he is back,” the father told reporters outside the police station. “The hospital needs to explain how she got in there in the first place.”
