LAHORE: Punjab Advocate General (AG) Shakilur Rehman Khan on Thursday denied before the Supreme Court the factor of vital body organs sale behind the incidence of child abduction in the province.

The principal law officer further told a two-judge bench of the apex court that stories being circulated on social media that some gangs had been kidnapping children for removal of their vital organs, were based on rumours.

He said no gang had so far been found involved in sale of children’s body organs.

The bench comprising Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik was hearing a suo motu notice against the increasing incidence of child abduction in the province.

Expressing concern over widespread rumours about removal of body organs of abducted children, Justice Nisar urged the public especially parents not to trust the hearsay.

The judge urged civil society and NGOs to play their role to stop people involved in spreading such rumours. He also asked the media to avoid sensationalising the issue of child abduction.

Being head of a high-level committee formed by the court, the AG also submitted a report that showed recovery of 139 children out of the 310 abducted till Aug 23. He said concerted efforts were being made for the recovery of the remaining children.

King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Faisal Masood told the court that extracting body organs of children of five years or below was not possible. He said removing kidney from children was useless. A removed kidney was required to be transplanted within 45 minutes, which was not possible in such cases, he added.

The bench adjourned further hearing till Sept 16 and directed the AG to submit a detailed report on the matter.

The bench observed that it wanted the police to come up with positive results as the matter involved life of children.

In this case, a helpline had been established at the office of advocate general for lodging complaints about child abduction.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2016