KHUDAYAR MOHLA

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the federal and all the provincial Secretaries health to submit a comprehensive report pertaining to sale of illegal transplant of human organs in the country.

Resuming the hearing of a suo motu case over illegal transplant of human organs in Punjab hospitals, a two member judge bench of the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that the illegal transplantation of human organs has defamed the country.

It is pertinent to mention that Dr Adeebul Hassan of Pakistan Society for Transplantation had written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, pointing out names of two hospitals including Al-Syed hospital, Rawalpindi and another hospital in Gujrat wherein cases pertaining to the problems being faced by either the donors and the patients, in the transplantation process of human organs were highlighted.

The Punjab government submitting a report in pursuance of the court’ earlier directives said that Al-Syed hospital is a registered body and sought permission for three cases of transplantation of human organs. It was further submitted that an inquiry is being conducted in the instant issue.

Similarly, the bench was apprised that there was no record available regarding the hospital in Gujrat, adding that it was not registered for the said purpose.

During the course of proceedings, Advocate Babar Awan, counsel for Al-Syed hospital contended that the police was harassing his client; however, the bench observed that if the police harass the said hospital, the management of the hospital could approach the relevant forum for remedy.

Awan informed the court that under the law only family members were allowed to donate human organs, adding that some time during the transplantation process in most of the cases usually blood group of the donors does not match with the patients due to which human organs are purchased from outside.

Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that if there was any lacuna in the relevant laws it could be modified but illegal transplantation of human organs has defamed the country.

Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that according to an international organization, Pakistan has become the biggest donors of transplantation of human organs. Responding to the court query, Babar Awan said that currently neighboring country India is at No 1 in transplantation of human organs whereas Pakistan is No 3 position for the purpose.

To which Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that India should not be followed in wrong doings saying that even if Pakistan is at No 3, this is also not a good example. Later, hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.