Slug: fia-busts-illegal-kidney-transplant-gang-islamabad
Category: National
Focus keyphrase: illegal kidney transplant gang
SEO title: FIA Busts Illegal Kidney Transplant Gang in Islamabad
Meta description: The FIA has busted an illegal kidney transplant gang in Islamabad, arresting five suspects and freezing properties worth Rs87.5 million.
Tags: fia, kidney transplant, organ trade, islamabad, rawalpindi, hota, money laundering, transplant act 2010
Original element: explainer context — the forged-referral mechanism reconstructed from the reported facts, plus local angle (PWD Society, Media Town, Jinnah Garden, Peshawar premises); contrast with the legal Sehat Card transplant pathway from our own coverage.
FIA Busts Illegal Kidney Transplant Gang in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency has busted an organised gang involved in illegal kidney transplants in the federal capital, arresting five suspects, recovering Rs1 million in cash, freezing properties worth Rs87.5 million and seizing three vehicles.
FIA Islamabad Zone Director Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari formed a team under the supervision of Deputy Director Anti-Corruption Mir Faizan after receiving a tip-off. The team, accompanied by officials of the Human Organ Transplantation Authority (HOTA), raided an illegal transplant facility in PWD Society, Islamabad.
The raid revealed that donor Ramzan Arshad’s kidney had allegedly been transplanted illegally into recipient Muhammad Qasim. Three suspects were arrested at the scene, while two others were apprehended later. A court has granted the FIA seven days’ physical remand of the suspects.
How the gang operated
Investigators found that the recipient had allegedly paid Rs3 million for the transplant. The gang’s agents had arranged the donor and promised him Rs400,000, of which Rs340,000 was to be paid to the donor and Rs60,000 divided among three agents as commission.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly performed kidney transplants in residential properties without medical qualifications. Tissue-typing, cross-matching, PRA and HLA tests were reportedly arranged illegally through agents at a hospital.
Because these tests are restricted to close relatives approved by HOTA, the suspects allegedly submitted donor samples under relatives’ names using forged referral letters, creating the impression of a legally permitted related-donor transplant.
Recipients’ dialysis was allegedly arranged through a technician at a hospital in Islamabad, and patients whose condition deteriorated were transferred to another hospital. The network of agents, a doctor, a nurse, an anaesthesia provider, medicine suppliers, laboratory staff and dialysis providers allegedly operated in PWD Society, Phase IV of a private housing society and private premises in Peshawar.
Money trail: houses, cars and frozen accounts
Investigators found the suspects had allegedly bought valuable Islamabad properties with proceeds from the illegal transplants. One suspect bought a 10-marla Media Town house for Rs62.5 million, and another bought a five-marla house in Jinnah Garden Phase I for Rs25 million.
The FIA has frozen both properties after issuing notices under Section 5 of the FIA Act, 1974. Letters have also been sent to banks to obtain the suspects’ financial records, while separate money-laundering proceedings against two individuals are under consideration.
The agency recovered Rs1 million in cash during searches and seized three vehicles: one Changan Oshan X7 and two Honda Civic cars. Their transfer and registration have also been frozen through the relevant excise office.
Charges and continuing raids
HOTA, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan have since inspected the facility and will submit separate reports.
A case has been registered against the suspects under Sections 9, 10 and 11(a)(ii) of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 2010, read with Sections 34, 419 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Officials said raids are continuing at various locations to arrest other nominated suspects.
The FIA has run similar enforcement operations before, including the arrest of two people over alleged hundi and hawala networks in Dera Ghazi Khan, and its work has faced judicial scrutiny, with the Lahore High Court upholding an inquiry order against FIA officials accused of coercing a former bureaucrat. As remand proceedings move forward, ATC Rawalpindi continues to hear other high-profile cases.
A legal alternative exists
Pakistani law permits kidney transplants at authorised hospitals with HOTA approval, where donors are genuine relatives. The first Sehat Card kidney transplant was performed at Khyber Teaching Hospital, showing patients have a lawful route without paying agents or forging documents.
Commercial dealing in human organs is a crime under the 2010 transplant law, and the FIA has asked anyone with information on the network’s other members or facilities to come forward.
*Source: The Express Tribune*
FAQs
How many people were arrested in the FIA raid?
Five. Three were picked up at the PWD Society facility in Islamabad and two later; a court granted seven days’ physical remand.
What was recovered from the gang?
The FIA recovered Rs1 million in cash, froze two houses worth Rs87.5 million in Media Town and Jinnah Garden, and seized three vehicles. Bank records have been sought and money-laundering proceedings are under consideration.
What charges have been registered?
Under Sections 9, 10 and 11(a)(ii) of the 2010 transplant law, read with PPC Sections 34, 419 and 109.
