The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the federal and provincial governments to effectively legislate over the issue of transplant of human organs.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed hearing into a constitutional petition moved by Asma Jahangir, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
The bench directed the chief secretaries to give proper attention to the issue and submit a report over compliance of the SC’s directive within two weeks. They were also ordered to take action against illegal transplant centers.
During the proceedings, representing the Capital Administration Transplant Authority, Dr Haider told the bench that they had dispatched hard and soft copies of the prepared rules to all provincial governments. However, the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments had not responded yet.
He urged effective and coordinated efforts on the part of all provincial governments, saying that regulations carried out by Iran had been regarded as the most effective throughout the world.
The chief justice observed that the poor were forced to sell their kidneys but no one was serious about the issue. He said legislation over the issue should be simple so that the general public could understand it.
He said the chief secretaries concerned should be held responsible for the illegal trade in their respective provinces.
He lamented that the situation had deteriorated as the authorities done nothing to discourage the illegal trade. “This issue is the most sensitive one but there has been no law governing it,” he added.
The CJP observed that illegal drugs were being sold at medical stores openly with no one to keep a check.
He asked the chief secretaries to take cognizance of the plight of people and create public awareness on the issue.
Further proceedings were adjourned for two weeks.
