ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two key agents of an illegal kidney transplant network after investigators uncovered their alleged involvement in over 150 cases of unlawful transplant and securing fraudulent approvals from the Human Organ Transplant Authority.

The main suspect, Shabbir Hussain was arrested from Jalalpur Bhattian, Hafizabad district, while his aide and alleged sub-agent Ghulam Abbas was picked up from Chak No 326/15-L, Mian Channu tehsil, Khanewal. Both are accused of arranging donors by luring financially vulnerable people with the promise of small payments.

Last month, FIA Islamabad Zone arrested nine people, including a well-known urologist and a private hospital employee, for their alleged involvement in illegal kidney transplantation and organ trafficking.

Investigations revealed the network charged recipients Rs6 million per transplant, and up to Rs10 million in some cases.

Nine people, including a urologist, were arrested last month

Kidney donors — mostly poor and financially distressed individuals — were paid only a few lakh rupees, with the remaining amount distributed among network members.

According to the agency’s initial findings, Shabbir Hussain used sub-agents to target labourers, daily wagers, and other underprivileged groups in Punjab and Islamabad, particularly brick kiln workers. Evidence suggests he allegedly provided over 50 kidney donors to the urologist.

The network allegedly obtained approvals from the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA) using forged and fraudulent documents, while legal clearance from the relevant evaluation committee was missing altogether.

Deputy Director of FIA Anti-Corruption circle Afzal Khan Niazi said the urologist’s alleged network was not limited to Pakistanis, and he was also involved in transplants for Afghan, Chinese and Saudi nationals.

Forensic and legal analysis of records of foreign patients and financial transactions is underway.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026