BAHAWALNAGAR: A team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan on Thursday arrested three members of a gang who were allegedly involved in illegal human organ trade and kidney transplant.

Speaking to Dawn, investigating officer Abdul Waqeel said a first information report was lodged on the complaint of Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA) against arrested agents Ahmed Yar, Muhammad Shahbaz and Muhammad Javaid along with people involved with the gang belonging to Lahore and other areas including doctors and surgeons on Aug 27 under Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA).

Waqeel said the FIR had been lodged against 11 people, including gang leader surgeons Dr Shahid, Dr Manzoor, Dr Jawad and Mayo Hospital Lahore’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Abdul Rauf who were on pre-arrest bail.

He said the FIR also included donors. He said according to the record of recipients, five names, including two women, had surfaced and further investigation was under way.

Waqeel said the agents lured people by taking advantage of their financial situation and offered Rs50,000 to Rs200,000 for a kidney.

He said the gang sold the kidney to recipients for Rs2.5 million to Rs4m.

FIA inspector Ghulam Abbas said the arrested agents used to rent out houses in Chishtian, Haroonabad and other cities where the kidneys were extracted and also transplanted.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...