RAWALPINDI, May 8: Ulema from different schools of thought unanimously announced here on Wednesday that transplantation of human organs did not violate the Islamic principles.

The sole objective of transplantation of human organs is to save the humanity; however, its trade is not allowed and the government should eliminate the role of the “middleman”, they said.

“The humanity is faced with numerous challenges in the 21st century, and we have to find their solutions in the light of the teachings of Islam.”

This was the consensus in speeches delivered by Ulema at a conference organised by the Society of Transplant Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan to discuss the topic — Transplantation of organs from the perspective of Islam.

Allama Abdul Jalil Naqvi proposed that the government should find a solution instead of putting a ban on trade of organs, and take measures to remove the administrative flaws.

“If the donation of blood is acceptable, than why not the transplantation of human organs,” questioned Mufti Mohammad Usman Yar Khan of Karachi.

Advocate Aslam Khaki called for the formation of a donors’ welfare society so that the rights of donors could be protected.

Rawalpindi District Khateeb Maulana Ghulam Ali Qamar also favoured the transplantation of human organs. However, he said the sale of human organs was an insult to humanity. All Ulema should have a joint consultation on this issue so as to save humanity and dignity, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mazhar Qayyum proposed formulation of a law which could establish a link between the donor and the patient.

If the patient, doctor and the hospital can benefit from the sacrifice, why the donor should not get benefits, he questioned.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Dr Mukhtar Hamid Shah said there were nearly 400,000 kidney patients in the country, and 15,000 to 20,000 more patients were being added to this pool every year.

He said 12 kidney hospitals in Rawalpindi and Lahore had stopped kidney transplantation ever since the promulgation of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Bill, 2007, which envisaged to curb the widely prevalent, unethical and illegal practices in human organ trade.

PML-N leader Raja Mohammad Zafarul Haq, who was the chief guest at the conference, did not stay long, and left the conference midway due to his party’s meeting. Pakistan has one of the highest rates of unrelated commercial transplantations in the world; the process of organised organ brokerage has been institutionalised in the country with the help of the unethical community of health care providers and a range of vendors. As a result, poor patients in desperate need of money are exploited for meager sums.