Two suspected organ harvesters detained

Accused lured a man to Rawalpindi, where they removed his kidney

SIALKOT:

Police arrested two suspected members of a six-member inter-district gang of organ harvesters. The accused used to take out the kidneys of poor citizens on the pretext of giving them financial assistance.

Additional Director FIA Makhdoom Qaiser Bashir informed The Express Tribune that Afzal and Fazal Karim, the leaders of the gang, would allegedly trick unemployed and poor people by promising them rickshaws as a ruse to take their kidneys.

The accused arranged a meeting between the victim, Fazal Abbas and a third accomplice, Iqbal alias Bali and apparently arranged the purchase of a rickshaw, after which Afzal and Fazal Karim took Abbas with them to Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, Iqbal alias Bali also reached Rawalpindi.

The accused allegedly drugged Abbas, moved him to an unknown location and handed him over to their fourth co-accused, who was a doctor. The fourth accused allegedly removed Abbas’ kidney and when he woke up, he realized his condition. Upon seeing Abbas’ condition, locals shifted him to the hospital, where after an ultrasound, it was found that the man's kidney had been removed.

Abbas’s mother submitted a written request to the FIA and appealed for help. Acting on the application, FIA officials arrested Afzal and Fazal after Abbas identified them. The accused were detained from the Imam Sahib area, which is considered a posh part of Sialkot.

According to Additional Director Makhdoom Qaiser Bashir, there are six accused, including women, in this group who trick people into extracting kidneys and receive huge amount of money in return.

Teams were formed to arrest the four remaining accused of and more arrests are expected soon.

Organ harvesting is nothing new in the province. In January of this year, a 14-year-old boy’s father approached Manawan police station and lodged a complaint about his missing son. Abdullah was found, however he was missing a kidney.

The 14-year-old victim told police that a group had approached him and said that he would receive a handsome amount for his kidney.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2023.