The FIA busts a group of doctors engaged in illicit kidney transplantation.

Two distinct gangs engaged in illegal kidney transplants in Lahore were taken down by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Punjab Police, and Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA) as part of a major operation against the criminal sale of human organs.

The FIA launched an operation into a group of physicians accused of doing illegal kidney transplants at a private clinic in the Mozang neighbourhood of the city in response to a report from PHOTA. Four doctors who were reportedly involved in the illegal activities were taken into custody during a raid on the clinic, which was headed by Assistant Director Gul Shahnaz and included Sub Inspectors Imtiaz Niazi and Akram Sindhu.

Doctors Tariq Rasheed, Abdul Hameed, Athar Shah, and Shahid Nawaz Bhatti are among those detained; two kidney donors, Muhammad Zulfiqar and Muhammad Irfan, are also among them. One donor’s condition was stated to be critical.

Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique spoke at a press conference at the FIA Lahore Zone office, reiterating the government’s strong opposition to illicit organ transplantation. In an effort to stop these illicit activities, Minister Rafique underlined the necessity of expediting the legal transplant process and revealed plans for new laws.

Sarfraz Ahmad Khan Virk, the Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore, emphasised the seriousness of the matter by disclosing that the accused had made multiple unsuccessful attempts at illegal kidney transplants. In order to tackle the financial side of organ trafficking, he also declared his desire to implement sections of the Anti Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

The Director General of PHOTA, Dr. Muhammad Shahzad Anwar, emphasised the organization’s resolve to suggest harsher sanctions for those involved in the illicit organ trade.

The widespread scope of the problem was highlighted by the arrest of five more defendants connected to illegal kidney transplants by Gulshan Iqbal police in a separate development.