LAHORE, July 4: A new dimension was added to the probe into the human organs’ trade scandal on Monday when two rickshaw drivers sought registration of separate cases against the four accused medics for removing their kidneys ‘fraudulently’ at a rented house in Al-faisal Town. The rickshaw drivers, Abid Ali (27) and Muhammad Ashraf (20), both residents of Kasur, told North Cantonment police that Lahore General Hospital Senior Registrar Dr Sanaullah and his team comprising three other doctors and assistants removed their kidneys last month.

The drivers reached the office of Cantonment SP (Investigations) Syed Muhammad Amin Bokhari and submitted their applications for the registration of FIRs against Dr Sanaullah, and his team members, including Dr Muhammad Mubashar, Dr Anees and Dr Ali Imran. After receiving the complaints, the police recommended to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to cancel the registration of the accused doctors.

The SP on Monday sent a letter to the PMDC Registrar along with the copies of the FIRs, informing the council of the findings of the preliminary probe into the scam that said the four doctors were involved in illegal kidney transplants performed at an Al-faisal Town house.

In a separate letter, the SP asked the Monitoring Authority constituted under section 8 of the Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Act to monitor the process of' transplantation of human organs or tissues to approach the police to finalise the investigations.

Bokhari told Dawn that the rickshaw drivers showed him the documents pertaining to the kidney transplants performed by the accused doctors. He said Abid Ali’s kidney was removed by these doctors some 27 days back while Ashraf’s around two weeks ago.

He said Ashraf had fresh stitches which confirmed that the transplant was carried out recently.

The drivers alleged in their applications that the doctors lured them into donating their kidneys’ and later paid them Rs110,000 each. Mr Bokhari said the matter had been forwarded to experts for legal opinion to decide whether separate FIRs against the accused should be launched or the statements of complainants included in the investigations. He said the PMDC and the Monitoring Authority meant to regulate the transplants of human organs had been informed about the network to bring the accused to book.

Meanwhile, Punjab IG Javed Iqbal has directed the police officers to sternly deal with the people involved in organ trade.

The IG also directed the police officers to expedite the probe into the case without any prejudice or pressure so that culprits could be punished accordingly.