KARACHI, Dec 1: Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro has assured enactment of the much-awaited cadaver organ donation bill by the Senate soon. Speaking at an international seminar on “deceased organ donation -- problems and prospects,” organised by the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation here on Friday, he said his colleagues in the parliament were also quite supportive of it.In their earlier delivered presentations Senator and federal minister Nilofer Bakhtiar, MNA Dr FarooqSattar (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) and Sherry Rehman (Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian) expressed their explicit support for the proposed bill - separately tabled by the two parties during previous years.

Nilofer Bakhtiar and Sherry Rehman also recommended vigorous public awareness campaigns to generate massive public support for the proposed law across the country.

Dr Farooq Sattar observed that people were generally supportive of measures that benefit humanity and that there was a need to counter elements who hinder moves that may effect status quo.

Mohammadmian Soomro, however, said the issue was extremely crucial and critical with far-reaching consequences, making it necessary that a comprehensive law is adopted with no loopholes and gaps providing even minimum chances for any sort of exploitation.

He mentioned that he had detailed talks with the federal health minister and it may not take long in getting the piece of legislation actually approved and implemented.

He paid tributes to Prof Adib ul Hasan Rizvi and his team for their commitment to humanity and saving precious human lives during past several years. He also appreciated the research work undertaken at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT).

The Senate chairman also publicly mentioned of having donated his organs and that he intends to document his will without any unnecessary delay.

Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed, the chairperson of the seminar, said the bill drafted by him several years ago in capacity of a lawyer on behalf of the SIUT was also aimed at curbing commercial dealing in human organs.

He clarified that the adoption of the bill and possible opposition was not a viable argument as transplantation legislation existed in all Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia.

The chief justice, with regard to confusion regarding the executor of the will, said it would be family members and friends. The bill, he said, stresses that there is no compulsion and that if there is a voluntary will by the donor, the process takes place once the donor is declared brain dead.

The seminar was also addressed by Dr Luc Noel of WHO and Prof Francis Delmonico of the International Transplant Society, Prof Anita Ghulam Ali, Ghazi Salahuddin, Zubeida Mustafa and Prof Adibul Hasan Rizvi.

Dr Fazal Akhter offered vote of thanks.—APP