Five held for illegal transplantation

The Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority (PHOTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have apprehended five people involved in illegal transplantations, including two doctors.

According to a statement, Muhammad Nadeem from Kasur district, Tayyab Ali and Sharon from Lahore, Babar Masih, Dr Tashbeeb Jalal and Dr Abdullah were involved in illegal human transplantation.

The suspects were arrested and cases were registered against them.

The action was taken after Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique took notice of kidney sale and illegal transplantation in the District Headquarters Hospital in Hafizabad.

A patient named Ayub was admitted to hospital, where he died.

On inquiry, it was found that a group of medical staffers had taken the patient to a private house in Peshawar and carried out transplantation.

The group reportedly included Sharon Parvez, a dialysis technician, Bob Masih, an agent, hormone lab employee Irfan Aslam, Dr Jalal and Dr Abdullah.

Various teams carried out raids and arrested five suspects in the case.

Minister Salman Rafique said strict legal action should be taken against those involved in human organ sale and illegal transplantation so that such incidents do not happen in the future.