RAWALPINDI: The police have closed their investigation into two doctors and an employee of a kidney centre, after the magistrate’s court discharged them in a case involving an organ trafficking ring operating in Rawalpindi.

The ring was discovered in October, when 24 people who were being illegally detained in a building in Bahria Town Phase VII were recovered.

The police were facing legal obstacles in handling cases of illegal organ transplants. They were only to initiate a case against the doctors if it was recommended by the District Vigilance Committee.

The committee was headed by the district coordination officer, and included the district police officer, Intelligence Bureau district officer, Special Branch district officer, executive district officer health, medical college principal, District Headquarters Hospital medical superintendent and any other member co-opted by the committee.

After the committee verified statements from five kidney theft victims, a case was registered on Dec 3 against Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Dr Zahid Iqbal and Dr Tausif Ahmad, as well as hospital cashier Laique Ahmed and Raja Mehmood, for violating the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act.

The Rawat police earlier also registered an FIR against Dr Zahid Iqbal, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Dr Tausif Ahmed, Raja Mehmood and Laique Ahmed, as well as other hospital staff, for kidnapping and detaining 24 people who were recovered on Oct 25.

In addition to the hospital employees, Shahzad Qayyum alias Shani, Faqeer Hussain alias Fakeera, Bilquis Bibi and the owner of the building where the victims were held were also booked, and none of the doctors were arrested.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Saleem Khattak said the doctors are allegedly involved in three cases, and the charges were dropped in the case registered on the District Vigilance Committee’s recommendation. The police will now only investigate their involvement in the case registered by the Rawat police regarding the illegal detention of 24 people.

“Two of the doctors Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Dr Tausif Ahmed had already got their pre-arrest bail, while Dr Zahid Iqbal had been declared a proclaimed offender,” the DSP said. He added that the police are considering filing an appeal against the court’s verdict.

The investigating officer said the case registered on the committee’s recommendation has been closed since the charges were dropped by the court. He said the charges against Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Dr Tausif Ahmad and Laique Ahmad were dropped after the police produced them before the court on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2016