An army officer adopted a little girl who was buried alive in the northwest of the country, according to the state media on Saturday.
The baby, who was saved by emergency speakers, was later taken to a local hospital to be treated. The incident occurred in Nowshera, where the infant was buried alive, a tragic affair that drew attention to social networks and Pashto news channels.
The child was rescued by the RESCUE 1122 team, a Pakistani emergency intervention service, which intervened just in time.
Major Waqas, an army officer following a course in Risalpur, learned of the baby’s fate and visited the hospital to check his condition. After completing the necessary legal procedures, Major Waqas adopted the child by the civil court.
The report by Radio Pakistan has not provided details on the identity of the children’s burial officials, how the authorities have been alerted or circumstances surrounding the girl’s rescue.
The cases of abandoned newborns, in particular girls, are not uncommon in Pakistan, where social stigma, discrimination based on sex and fear of the backlash often push people to take desperate measures.
To fight against this, the Edhi Foundation, one of the largest humanitarian organizations in Pakistan, has created cradles outside its offices in various cities, encouraging parents to leave unwanted babies rather than abandon them or their do harm.
The case launched an important public discussion, with many major Waqas for its decision to adopt the child, emphasizing both the tragedy of the situation and the compassion of the officer.
