KARACHI: In a disturbing incident that raises grave concerns about medical-ethics and child-protection, a newborn was allegedly sold by a private hospital in the Memon Goth area of Karachi after the parents failed to pay the delivery expenses.
What happened
According to police officials, the hospital administration took the baby from the mother under the pretext of settling unpaid bills and later handed the newborn over to a third party, who then sold him. The complaint was filed by the father of the infant, leading to the registration of an FIR under human-trafficking and kidnapping laws.
Investigations revealed that one of the accused, Dr Zehra, allegedly told the mother she knew a woman who would cover the hospital costs in exchange for taking the child, while the other accused, Shama Baloch—an employee of the same facility—paid the outstanding amount and took custody of the newborn.
Immediate police action
Senior Superintendent of Police Malir, Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, confirmed that the hospital was sealed and the baby was recovered from Punjab and reunited with his parents. The two primary suspects remain at large and law-enforcement authorities are conducting raids to arrest them and investigate whether a broader network may be involved.
Why this matters
This case touches on multiple serious issues—ethical hospital conduct, the vulnerability of low-income families, the risk of human trafficking under the guise of “help”, and the gaps in regulation of private medical facilities. For the public, it underscores the importance of transparency in medical billing, informed consent, and protections for newborns and mothers in socio-economically disadvantaged settings.
The incident at the Memon Goth hospital is a stark reminder that safeguarding rights—especially of newborns and low-income families—requires vigilance, strong institutional governance and legal enforcement. As authorities continue their investigation, this case should prompt a wider public and policy-driven discussion about how such abuses can be prevented.
