Police in Pakistan have exposed an illegal organ harvesting ring. Eight people were arrested for operating on hundreds of patients and removing their kidneys which they would later sale to rich people who need a transplant.
The leader of the gang is known as “Dr. Fawad” is accused of conducting surgeries for over 328 patients to harvest their kidneys and sell them to clients for up to $34,000 per kidney. This was revealed by Punjab Province chief minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Dr. Fawad was assisted by a car mechanic who was in charge of administering anesthesia on the patients.
The gang persuaded patients from health facilities in Texila region and operated on them privately.
“They were able to do this in Kashmir because there is no law regarding kidney transplant, so it was easier for them to carry out the operations there,” Naqvi revealed.
A man approached the police and told them he was persuaded by one of the gang members to get medical treatment conducted privately.
Later when he paid a visit to another doctor for additional treatment, he was informed that he did not have a kidney as per the chief minister.
In 2007, Pakistan enacted a law that made the commercial trade of human organs illegal. The law was strengthened in 2010. Those found guilty will be sent to prison for 10 years and pay $3,400 fine.
Before the law was passed, Pakistani was the center of human organ trade and the purchase and sale of kidneys was a common practice. Poor Pakistanis were selling their kidneys to survive.
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