PESHAWAR, June 8: Another local court on Wednesday dismissed the bail petition of a lady doctor charged with selling infants at a private healthcare facility.

Additional district and sessions judge Azhar Ali Khan observed that the accused-petitioner, Dr Fatima, was not entitled to the concession of bail.

Earlier, her bail petition was dismissed by a judicial magistrate two days ago following which the present petition was filed. The accused is now likely to move the Peshawar High Court for bail.

The lady doctor was arrested by officials of Tehkal police station on June 2 and an FIR was registered against her. The police had also allegedly recovered a five-month-old baby boy from her possession whom she was reportedly selling for Rs360,000.

The state prosecutor contended that the accused-petitioner was directly charged in the case and was caught red-handed when she was finalising the deal. He added that the offence was non-bailable.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that even the local police was not clear as to which section of law was applicable to the instant case. He contended that initially the police had registered the case under section 371-A (selling for purpose of prostitution) and 371-B (buying for purpose of prostitution) of Pakistan Penal Code, which were irrelevant. Later, he argued, the police incorporated section 372 and 373 PPC, which had already been repealed.

The prosecution said that the doctor was arrested in a sting operation.

The prosecution has alleged that the accused was dealing in illegitimate deliveries and the couples involved in such cases used to leave behind their infants, who were later sold by the accused for Rs150,000 to Rs360,000. —Bureau Report