Illegal transplant case: Physical remand of accused extended

Police include murder provision against suspects after autopsy of man, who died during operation

RAWALPINDI:

Civil Judge Wajiha Khawaj on Sunday extended for four days the physical remand of nine accused including three doctors in the illegal organ trade and kidney transplant case.

The suspects were produced in the court after the expiry of their three-day physical remand.

Investigating Officer Ghulam Murtaza produced the suspects, Dr Zahid Mukhtar Bukhari, Dr Latif Abid, Israr Hussain Shah, Shahzad Altaf, Shahnawaz, Muhammad Asim, Muhammad Imran, Rashid Mehmood and Anas Rehman in the judicial complex and requested a seven-day physical remand.

The court while granting physical remand for four days ordered the investigation officer to produce the accused on March 22.

The body of the patient who died in the hospital was transferred to the district headquarters hospital for a post-mortem

The police said raids were under way to arrest three fugitives including Dr Athar, who have gone into hiding after police made the arrests. Provision of 302 (murder case) has also been included in the case filed after the autopsy of Iftikhar Ali’s body, police said.

The body of Iftikhar Ali, a resident of Jaranwala, was handed over to the heirs after a post-mortem on Sunday.

Earlier, the Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA) and Rawalpindi police raided a private hospital involved in illegal organ transplants of patients and arrested nine suspects including three doctors for their alleged involvement in illegal transplants.

According to police, a 65-year-old man, Iftikhar Ali, died while being operated upon during the illegal transplant while one person was shifted to a hospital in critical condition.

The police said that Dr Zahid was arrested in the past for his involvement in illegal organ transplantation and kidney sale.

Police also seized Rs20 million in cash from the private hospital and rounded up 15 patients, including a foreigner.

PHOTA Assistant Director (technical) Faraz Ahmed earlier said that the private hospital was raided on a tip-off that illegal transplants were being carried out there.

He said that 15 patients were recovered from the hospital and of them, two were in critical condition. He said that all the patients were transferred to government hospitals.

The accused used to carry out kidney transplants illegally and earn millions of rupees. They used to buy kidneys from the poor for Rs0.1 million and sell them for up to Rs5 million.

Earlier, Rawalpindi police arrested three suspected traffickers including two nurses from the Jand area.

The Rawat police arrested a man and two nurses who were allegedly involved in the illegal organ trade and transplantation of kidneys.

Police had recovered surgical equipment and a vehicle during a raid on two houses in a private housing society located in the vicinity of Rawat.

The two houses in the housing society were being used for the illegal organ trade. Police said that the houses had been by rented the accused for carrying out the illegal organ trade.

Police earlier said that the suspected two women had escaped the location leaving behind surgical equipment and other belongings including a vehicle after the police arrested one of their accomplices.

Police said that raids were underway for the arrest of the doctor, identified as Imran, who is said to be the ringleader of illegal kidney transplantation. The doctor is said to have fled to Lahore after the police arrested his accomplices.

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. In Pakistan, 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.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2023.