BEIJING: A Chinese doctor has admitted in court that she persuaded parents to give up their newborn babies so that she could sell them to human traffickers.

The official Xinhua News Agency said obstetrician Zhang Shuxia stood trial on Monday in northern Shaanxi province’s Fuping county in a case that exposed the operations of a baby trafficking ring that operated across several provinces.

Xinhua says Zhang sold seven babies between late 2011 and July 2013 to human traffickers after getting their parents to give them up by telling them the babies were incurably sick. One of the babies died.

Child trafficking is serious problem in China, where traditional preference for male heirs and a strict one-child policy has driven a thriving market in baby boys.—AP

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...