Suspected organ trafficker held

Pakistan has long been an international hub for the illegal kidney trade, but authorities have been unable to act against the practice due to ineffective enforcement policies and a lack of political will to crack down.

Organ donation is legal so long as it is voluntary, given without duress or the exchange of money. The limited supply sees the wealthy routinely exploit thousands of poor with the help of an organ trade mafia. Kidneys can be bought so cheaply that overseas buyers are also tapped in, largely from the Gulf, Africa and the United Kingdom. In many countries, such trafficking is confined to the shadows, but in Pakistan, it is brazen.

The illegal organ trade has reared its ugly head in Rawalpindi as surreptitious operations are being carried out at a facility in a private housing society, where people are laced with drugs and their kidneys are removed without seeking their consent. Police on Sunday busted an organ trafficking ring and arrested one of their men, identified as Saqib Ali, after they intercepted a vehicle carrying a man who had his kidney removed in Rawalpindi.

The man, a labourer by profession, was called to Rawalpindi under the pretext of help before he was taken to a private health facility to get one of his kidneys removed Punjab Highway Patrolling Police Sub-Inspector, Sayab Awan lodged a case with the Rawat police stating that he along with head constable, Akhtar Hussain, was on duty on Japan Road when they stopped a vehicle for checking.

According to him, the driver, Saqib Ali, attempted to escape before he was taken into custody. The driver told the police that he was in a hurry and offered Rs5,000 as a bribe. Sub-Inspector Sayab Awan said that when he checked the vehicle, he found a man wrapped in a shawl in the back of the vehicle with a cannula in his arm and a bandage had been wrapped around his belly.

When inquired, the person, identified as Azam, a resident of Jaranwala, told the highway police that he worked at a brick kiln and he had borrowed from the owner Abdul Rehman, who was demanding the sum back. He said that when he told his elder brother about his financial ordeal, his brother linked him to Saqib Ali and Imran. He said that Saqib and his accomplice promised to help him and called him to Rawalpindi.

He further told the police that after reaching Rawalpindi on February 10, Saqib Ali took him to an unknown house at a private housing society in his car. There, he said, he was given an injection and he fell unconscious. He said that when he woke up late at night, there was a cannula in his arm and he felt severe pain in the belly.

He said that when he asked what has happened to him, Saqib said that Rs200,000 have been sent to his brother and one of his kidneys had been removed. He said that a person wearing Arabic clothes gave him Rs40,000 during his night stay at the health facility. Sayab Awan said that they also recovered Rs495,000 and 50 Omani Riyals from Saqib’s pocket and Rs500,000 from under the vehicle.

A case has been registered against the accused. Sources said that the medical examination of the patient was under way and raids were being conducted to arrest other accused.