PESHAWAR: Police on Monday arrested a couple suspected of selling their newborn child to a ring of alleged abductors nabbed in Peshawar last week.

Imtiaz and his wife were apprehended from Nowshera's Pabbi area on charges of child trafficking when police raided their house after receiving a lead from Wajiha, a prime suspect in the kidnapping ring arrested last week, Investigating Officer (IO) Inspector Lalzada.

Wajiha provided police the names of the couple during investigation, the IO said, adding that the suspect alleged the couple sold their baby to the gang for Rs100,000.

Speaking to DawnNews, the accused Imtiaz denied the charges against him and his wife. He alleged that he had handed his daughter over to Wajiha ─ who had pretended to be a doctor ─ because he was poor and the suspected gang member had promised a bright future for the child.

Despite their refusing the money, Wajiha gave the couple Rs70,000 in return, Imtiaz alleged.

IO Lalzada said the staff of certain maternity homes and hospitals were involved in the business of buying and selling babies.

Explore: Newborn kidnapping gang busted in Peshawar