RAWALPINDI: Police have registered another FIR against members of an organ trafficking ring, including three doctors, for allegedly stealing the kidneys of five people.

The second FIR was registered with the Morgah police since the kidney centre was located in their limit which was sealed and then unsealed. The fresh case was registered in the light of a report by the district vigilance committee which asked the city police officer to initiate legal action against the doctors and others involved in the illegal kidney trade.

When contacted, City Police Officer Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi said the fresh case was registered under the Punjab Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue Act 2010 after the committee confirmed that the organ trafficking ring was involved in the theft of kidneys.

“The committee recorded the statements of five individuals whose kidneys were stolen. The medical examinations also endorsed their allegations,” the CPO said. “The district vigilance committee’s report was sent to Lahore while a copy was dispatched to the DSP Civil Lines circle for registration of FIR.”

Earlier, the police were facing legal hurdles to initiate action against the three doctors. However, after the committee’s report, the police were left with no option but to initiate legal action against the hospital and its doctors. The committee also asked the police to arrest the three doctors - two brothers and their father. The organ trafficking ring was busted by the Rawat police on Oct 15, 2016, when they recovered 20 men and four women from an illegal detention.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2016