KARACHI, Nov 10: Police officers investigating the Nov 5 abduction of a newborn from the National Institute of Child Health on Thursday claimed to have found a lead. However, the senior police officer of the South district declined to share the information, saying that it could adversely affect the investigation.

“I have dedicated four competent officers who have stopped all their assignments to focus on this case,” SSP South Naeem Ahmed Shaikh told Dawn.

We have repeatedly and very minutely examined the CCTV footage obtained from the hospital, he said.

He noted that the newborn was surviving on an oxygen mask and had a canula attached to his body when he went missing, and doctors had described his condition as serious.

At the time of the baby’s disappearance, according to some statements, the nurse on duty had gone for prayers and the doctor concerned for a round, the SSP said.

The Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmad has announced a Rs200,000 reward for a person offering useful information in the case.

Rahib Ali, the father of the newborn, blamed the hospital administration for the newborn’s disappearance.

A case (FIR No.338/2011) under Section 363 (punishment for kidnapping) of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered on a complaint of Mr Ali against unidentified suspects at the Saddar police station.