ISLAMABAD - A local court in Islamabad on Thursday granted post-arrest bail to a doctor accused of involvement in an alleged illegal kidney transplant network, ruling that the case against him required further inquiry and that no active role had prima facie emerged against him at the current stage of proceedings.
Judicial Magistrate Ahmad Shahzad Gondal allowed the bail application of Dr. Nadir Hussain, a urologist associated with Quaid-i-Azam International Hospital, in a case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under provisions of the Human Organ and Tissue Authority (HOTA) Act, 2010. The court ordered his release against surety bonds of Rs100,000 with one local surety in the like amount.
The case stems from an FIA investigation launched after the Human Organ and Tissue Authority reported suspected illegal organ transplantation activities linked to Premium Diagnostic Center in Islamabad’s G-8 Markaz.
According to the FIR, FIA officials, HOTA representatives and local police conducted a raid at the facility on May 16, during which several individuals were detained, including alleged kidney donors Muhammad Sajjad and Muhammad Sanwal, laboratory technician Aamir Khan, rider Rahimullah, intermediary Muhammad Imtiaz and Sabra Bibi, who was identified as a next of kin. Investigators alleged that prospective donors had been promised Rs600,000 each in exchange for donating a kidney and were brought to the diagnostic centre for blood grouping, hepatitis screening and ultrasound examinations.
Authorities further alleged that intermediaries and medical professionals were operating an organised network to facilitate illegal kidney transplants and were planning additional procedures. Reports suggest the network may have been involved in as many as 187 illegal kidney transplant procedures, an allegation that has yet to be tested during trial.
During Thursday’s hearing, defence counsel argued that Dr. Nadir had been falsely implicated and that the allegations against him were based solely on statements of co-accused persons. The defence maintained that no material evidence connected the doctor with any illegal transplant activity and contended that his role was distinct from that of other accused persons whose bail applications had previously been rejected.
The prosecution opposed the bail request and sought dismissal of the application, maintaining that the accused was involved in illegal kidney transplantation activities.
The magistrate observed that the primary allegation against Dr. Nadir was that prospective donors had allegedly been referred for medical testing at his instance in 2024. The court noted that no active role of the accused had surfaced on the face of the FIR and that his alleged involvement differed from that of other suspects. The court further observed that the investigation had been completed and that the accused was no longer required for further interrogation.
The court held that continued detention would serve no useful purpose and declared the matter one of further inquiry, making the accused entitled to the concession of bail.
Dr. Nadir was arrested last month after being nominated in the case. An Islamabad sessions court had earlier granted the FIA four days of physical custody of the accused after setting aside a magistrate’s order sending him to jail on judicial remand, allowing investigators additional time to examine the alleged transplant network and collect evidence.
Meanwhile, an Islamabad sessions court has issued notice to Dr. Nadir Hussain on a petition seeking cancellation of his bail. Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka directed the accused to respond to the application and fixed June 29, 2026, for further proceedings.
The FIA says investigations into the role of all suspects named in the case are continuing.
