Plumbing
new depths in the battle for television ratings, abandoned babies are being
given away on a controversial prime-time game show in Pakistan. TV host Aamir
Liaquat Hussain presented baby girls to two unsuspecting couples during his
show, which is broadcast live for seven hours a day during the month of
Ramadan.
"I was really shocked at first. I couldn't believe we were being given this baby girl," said Suriya Bilqees, now a mother of a two-week old. "I was extremely happy." Another baby, a boy, is due to be given to another couple at some point in the coming days.
"At
Christmas there's Santa Claus to give everyone gifts, it's important for
Christians. For us Ramadan is a really special time so it's really important to
make people happy and reward them," said Hussain.
His show
-- Aman Ramazan -- has been dubbed Pakistan's version of The Price Is Right,
with members of the 500-strong audience receiving prizes in exchange for
answering questions on the Quran.
The baby
girls given away on the show were found by an NGO, the Chhipa Welfare
Association, which says it receives up to 15 abandoned babies a month.
We've
created a symbol of peace and love, that's our show's theme -- to spread love.
I'm setting an example. Giving a childless couple an abandoned child.
Adoption
is not officially recognized in Pakistan and there is no adoption law. The
couple will have to apply for guardianship at a family court.
Some
viewers praised the show's baby giveaway but others declared it a publicity
stunt.
"Pakistan
wake up," Shamim Mahmood wrote on the NGO's Facebook page. "Babies
are not trophies to be handed to just anyone."
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