Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court of Pakistan that several doctors from well-reputed hospitals were involved in illegal kidney transplants.

ICT Police, through its 53-page report, stated that a number of cases had been registered against doctors working in Shifa International Hospital, Heart International Hospital, Al-Sayed Hospital (Kidney Center) and Kidney Center Hospital.

The report stated that a total of 30 people, including doctors, nursing staff, agents and subagents, had been nominated in nine FIRs registered in various police stations and with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) about illegal kidney transplants.

The report further stated that one of the doctors, currently in police custody, had revealed that illegal kidney transplant procedures were being carried out on foreigners, particularly people from Arab countries.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had taken suo moto notice over a complaint regarding illegal kidney transplants and directed the Islamabad Police inspector general to submit a detailed report. The report stated that in one of the cases, Shifa International Hospital had convinced Zeeshan Masih to sell his kidney for Rs 150,000. “However, he was only paid Rs 10,000,” the report said. “Due to advances in medical technology, organ transplants can be easily and successfully performed in any facility where the requisite staff and equipment was available,” the report said.

The report stated that there were no effective checks on recognised hospitals, laboratories and dialysis centres to deal with illegal organ transplants.

“The most important thing is that an aggrieved person cannot move an application prior to giving a notice of 15-days to the monitoring authority, which takes more than a month. So, there is a clear conflict of interest as the same authority is mandated to regulate this illicit activity,” the report stated. It added that the procedure gave an ample time to the accused to abscond and conceal the items used in illicit activity.

“It is a mafia, which has a well-developed network of donors, recipients, main agents, subagents, medical specialists and support staff,” the report said. It added that kidney transplantation required various tests that needed a maximum of seven days to complete.

The report further stated that the interrogation of suspects had revealed that the mafia involved in the illegal business of kidney transplantation had planted their network throughout the country. “Mostly they target poor people living in far-flung areas,” the report said.

Regarding the victim on whose complaint the suo moto notice had been taken, the report stated that five suspects involved in the crime had been arrested and sent to judicial custody. “Two accused doctors are still in police custody. They are being interrogated to trace out the whereabouts of remaining suspects,” the report said.

“Dr Fawad and Dr Altamash, both accused in the case, have disclosed that they had performed a surgery on the complainant to remove his kidney and transplant it into an unidentified foreigner who had arrived in Pakistan and stayed at Envoy Continental Hotel. However, three of the co-accused, Nyla, Muhammad Rafique and Imran, involved in this case are still at large. Efforts are underway to arrest them and conclude the investigation without further loss of time,” the report said.

During the course of hearing, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that illegal transplant procedure were a curse for the society. “These people are not donors, but the victims of exploitation,” he said.

SSP Sajid Kiyani, who was present during the hearing, told the court that police could only raid a building were such a procedure was taking place. “All other matters are the jurisdiction of other departments. Further legislation is required to curb this menace,” he said.

The top court expressed satisfaction over the report of ICT police, but it observed that more had to be done in this regard.

The top court then issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan, law officers of all the provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan to inform the court regarding the situation in their respective regions. The case was then adjourned.