ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested five suspects over an illegal commercial kidney transplant network operating in Islamabad, seized three vehicles and frozen two properties worth a combined Rs87.5 million, officials said.
According to an FIA statement, the agency’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad carried out the operation jointly with the Human Organ Transplantation Authority (HOTA) at a house in PWD Society, where investigators found evidence of an illegal kidney transplant.
According to the agency, a recipient identified as Muhammad Qasim had received a kidney from a donor identified as Ramzan Arshad, through an unlawful procedure.
🚨 BREAKING: Pakistan’s FIA has busted an illegal kidney transplant racket in PWD Residential Society, Islamabad, arresting five suspects accused of running surgeries in residential houses using fake documents.
One recipient paid Rs3 million for a kidney, while the donor was promised just Rs400,000.
Investigators have frozen properties worth Rs87.5 million, seized three vehicles and recovered Rs1 million in cash.#Pakistan #FIA #OrganTrafficking #Islamabad @FIA_Agency
— Sajjad Tarakzai (@SajjadTarakzai) October 23, 2026
Three suspects were arrested at the site, while two others were detained later. A court has granted the arrested suspects seven days of physical remand, the FIA said.
How The Network Operated
Investigators said the recipient paid Rs3 million in cash for the transplant. Agents arranged the donor and promised to pay him Rs400,000. Of that amount, Rs340,000 was to go to the donor, while Rs60,000 was to be divided among three agents as commission.
The FIA said that the group carried out kidney transplants in residential properties without the necessary medical qualifications or certification. 
According to investigators, agents arranged tissue typing, cross-matching, PRA and HLA tests through a hospital using referral letters that falsely presented donors as close relatives of recipients.
Such testing was obtained under the names of recipients’ relatives to bypass restrictions governing approved donor relationships.
A technician at a hospital in Islamabad arranged dialysis for recipients, while patients whose conditions deteriorated after surgery were transferred to another hospital.
The suspected network involved agents, a doctor, a nurse, an anaesthesia provider, medicine suppliers, laboratory-testing facilitators and dialysis providers.
Investigators said the group had operated at private locations in PWD Society, Bahria Town Phase 4 and Peshawar.
Properties Frozen
The FIA said its investigation traced funds earned through illegal kidney transplants to the purchase of two properties in Islamabad, worth Rs87.5 million in total.
One suspect bought a 10-marla house in Media Town for Rs62.5 million, while another purchased a five-marla house in Jinnah Garden Phase 1 for Rs25 million.
The agency said the properties, worth Rs87.5 million in total, had been frozen through notices issued under Section 5 of the FIA Act 1974.
Investigators have also written to banks to obtain the suspects’ financial records and are considering separate money-laundering proceedings against the two property owners.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of Rs1 million in cash and the seizure of three vehicles: one Changan Oshan X7 and two Honda Civic cars.
Their transfers and registrations have been frozen through the relevant excise office, according to the FIA.
Teams from HOTA, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) inspected the suspected illegal facility and are expected to submit separate reports.
The case was registered as FIR No. 60/2026 on October 15 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 the Pakistan Penal Code, the agency said.
The FIA said raids were continuing at various locations to arrest other nominated suspects. The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations have yet to be established in court.
