ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has busted an organised gang involved in illegal commercial kidney transplants, arresting five persons, seizing Rs1 million in cash besides freezing properties worth Rs87.5 million and impounding three vehicles.
According to a press release issued on Thursday, the FIA, along with Human Organ Transplantation Authority (HOTA), raided a premises in PWD Society, Islamabad, and found that recipient Mohammad Qasim had been transplanted a kidney of donor Ramzan Arshad in violation of law.
Three suspects were arrested on the spot while two others were rounded up later. A court granted seven-day physical remand of the suspects.
An FIR has been registered 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 Pakistan Penal Code.
Investigations said that the recipient had paid Rs3 million in cash for the transplant. Agents arranged the donor. The agents had promised Rs400,000 to the donor, of which Rs340,000 was to be given to the donor and Rs60,000 to be distributed among three agents as commission.
The suspects had been performing transplants in residential houses without any medical degree or certificate. Necessary tissue typing, cross-match, PRA and HLA tests were conducted illegally through a hospital by agents. Since these tests are conducted only for HOTA-approved close relatives, the suspects would submit donor samples under names of recipient’s relatives with fake referral letters to make it appear as a relative donor case.
Dialysis of recipients was arranged through a technician of a hospital in Islamabad, while in case of deterioration of condition after transplant, the patient was shifted to another hospital.
The network consisted of agents, a doctor, nurse, anaesthesia provider, medicine supplier, laboratory test facilitator and dialysis provider. The gang had been operating at private places in PWD Society, Bahria Phase-4 and Peshawar.
Investigations further revealed that the suspects had purchased properties in Islamabad from illicit proceeds of illegal transplants.
One of them had purchased a 10-marla house in Media Town, Islamabad, for Rs62.5 million, while another purchased a 5-marla house in Jinnah Garden Phase-I, Islamabad, for Rs25 million. Transfer of both properties has been frozen by issuing notices under Section 5 of the FIA Act, 1974.
Letters have been sent to all banks for obtaining records of the suspects and separate money laundering proceedings against both were under consideration.
During search, Rs1 million cash was recovered and three vehicles — one Changan Oshan X7 and two Honda Civics — were seized and their transfer and registration frozen through the excise office.
Teams from HOTA, Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) inspected the illegal set-up and will submit separate reports. The illegal set-up has been sealed.
The operation was conducted on directions of Director FIA Islamabad Zone Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari and under supervision of Deputy Director FIA Anti-Corruption Circle, Islamabad, Faizan Mir.
Raids were being conducted at various places for the arrest of the remaining suspects and further investigation was underway.
Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2026