A newborn baby has reportedly disappeared from Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in Peshawar, sparking a dispute between the family and police over the circumstances surrounding the incident. Hasmat Ali, a resident of Shabqadar in Charsadda, stated that his child was born at LRH the day before. He claimed that hospital staff asked female relatives to leave the gynecology room, and when they returned, the baby was missing.
Hasmat mentioned that a daily diary entry was made at the hospital’s police post regarding the baby’s disappearance, but police have yet to file a formal first information report (FIR). He also said a nurse in the gynecology ward accused the family of causing the baby to vanish, a claim Hasmat strongly denied, questioning who would make their own child disappear. He urged authorities to recover the missing newborn promptly.
In a significant development, an LRH spokesperson confirmed that an inquiry is underway and police are actively investigating the case. The spokesperson expressed optimism that those responsible would be identified soon.
Meanwhile, police stated that the baby’s mother had handed the infant over to a woman dressed in a white burqa with her consent. This woman reportedly stayed in the gynecology ward for approximately three hours. The baby’s maternal aunt was also present during this time. Police requested the mother to file a report, but she declined, describing the matter as a personal family issue. The investigation remains ongoing.
Notably, video footage has emerged showing a woman carrying the baby away from Lady Reading Hospital, adding further complexity to the case.
