Illegal organ transplant gang busted

LAHORE: Under the direction of Director FIA Lahore Zone Sarfraz Khan Virk, three accused of inter-provincial and international gangs involved in illegal organ transplantation were arrested in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Gujarat.

According to the details, FIA, Anti-Corruption Circle, Lahore, while acting on a complaint received by Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA) Lahore, a raiding team consisting of Nadeem Akhtar Assistant Director, Mohammad Imtiaz Niazi SHO and others formed, arrested nephrologist Dr. Shehbaz Malik from Gujarat district, notorious agent Shahzad and a private lab attendant Abrar Hussain from Rawalpindi district.

Accused Dr. Shehbaz Malik demanded a total of 40 lakh rupees from a patient’s family for transplanting his kidney, of which 0.5 lakh rupees was received in Lahore, while 0.5 lakh rupees was received by his representative agent Shahzad in Rawalpindi after the tissue typing test.

The team of FIA anti-corruption circle Lahore took timely action and arrested the accused agent Shahzad and recovered the received amount of 0.5 lakh rupees. According to spokesperson to FIA, the accused Dr. Shahzad Malik is a nephrologist who illegally sends the patient agent Shahzad for kidney transplant and after the operation, he treats them under his supervision in different private hospitals of Gujarat.

The patient of the registered case was also referred to by the accused Dr. Shehbaz. Accused Shahzad is a notorious agent who is the prime suspect in this illegal heinous crime. The accused, through various operatives, are involved in tricking poor villagers into extracting their kidneys and later selling them to recipients, including inter-provincial and international patients, for huge sums of money.

Accused Abrar Hussain is a private lab attendant who, on the request of accused Shahzad, used to conduct the necessary tests before the kidney transplant of his donors or recipients and used to receive his share for it. The test was done. The accused were arrested and investigation started, concluding the spokesperson to FIA.

Later, Caretaker Provincial Health Minister Prof Dr Javed Akram held a press conference at the office of Director FIA Lahore on Tuesday. DG Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority Professor Dr Shahzad Anwar and Director FIA Lahore Sarfraz Ahmad Virk were also accompanying him. On this occasion, Deputy Director FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore Mian Muhammad Sabir, Adnan Bhatti of PHOTA and other raiding team members were also present.

The minister said that, at present, there is excellent coordination between the Punjab Health Department and the FIA. A strong coordination of government agencies produces very positive results.

“I have already announced to donate all my organs. We will realize this thing by going four feet below the ground. PKLI pays tribute to Rifaat, a woman who recently saved three human lives by donating her organs. All the accused arrested today are criminals of all humanity,” the minister added.