Illegal transplantation of human organs: government's comments sought on strategy

The top court Wednesday sought comments from federal and provincial governments pertaining to steps taken for preventive measures against the illegal transplantation of human organs in the country. Appearing before a three-member bench of the Justice Mian Saqib Nisar in a suo moto case, counsel for Al Sayed Hospital alleged that the government was harassing the hospital's staff under the guise of investigations.
During May this year, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali had taken cognizance of the matter while considering a letter of Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation's Director Dr Adib Hasan Rizvi who pointed out about a bad reputation of Pakistan around the world for alleged illegal transplantation of organs in the country.
Dr Rizvi cited a number of emails of foreign surgeons levelling allegations regarding the transplantation of kidneys being carried out illegally at the Al Sayed Hospital, Rawalpindi as well as other medical problems of such illegal fatal business. The court was also informed about forbidden business of kidney under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 2010 which provides provisions to impose heavy penalty and imprisonment to the offenders.
Rizvi further said any ambiguity in the law should be addressed instead of creating harassment to hospital staff whereas counsel for Al Sayed Hospital urged the court to dispose of the case. Responding to the request, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar plainly said the matter relating to illegal transplantation of human organ was the matter of public importance which could not be disposed of without any conclusion.
Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked the government should immediately deter the illegal transplantation of human organs, however, the counsel for the Al Sayed Hospital submitted the Punjab government had constituted a committee for preventive measures for illegal transplantation of organs.
Al-Sayed Hospital also filed an application alleging that the applicant Dr Rizvi and doctors at Al Shifa International and Sheikh Zayed Hospitals were themselves involved in illegal transplants. Referring the case of a 15 years' old Syed Imran, Al Sayed Hospital counsel alleged that Syed Imran was taken to Al-Shifa Hospital Islamabad for treatment where he didn't survive whereas his treatment cost was recorded as Rs 285,448.
The counsel for Al-Sayed alleged when the parents showed inability to pay expenses then administration of Al-Shifa Hospital used to negotiate the cost against Syed Imran's kidneys saying one kidney was kept by Al-Shifa, while other was taken by Dr Rizvi. Hearing of the matter was adjourned for six weeks.