LAHORE:
The project director of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) regularly uses ‘abusive and derogatory language’ while dealing with highly qualified forensic scientists and has even threatened to terminate their contracts, alleged a number of victims in an application forwarded to the Punjab chief minister and provincial home secretary.
Nayyar Mehmood, who heads the PFSA’s Programme Implementation Unit, always humiliates and demoralises scientists just to express his hegemony over them as he fears someone will disclose his ‘wrongdoings’, victims wrote in the application
According to the application, four highly qualified forensic scientists alleged that on May 19, Mehmood called a meeting of contractors, vendors and four DNA scientists to discuss the specifications of Fume Hood apparatus.
During the meeting, the scientists informed others about the specification of apparatus, but Mehmood did not seem satisfied with their presentation.
He scolded Dr Nouman Rasool and Dr Zawar Hussain in the presence of participants and warned them of “dire consequences”.
When Muhammad Asif, one of the scientists, interfered, Mehmood grabbed him by the neck and dragged him out of the office and threatened to terminate his contract.
On May 22, PFSA Deputy Director Ziaur Rehman, on behalf of Mehmood, illegally detained Asif in his office, insisting he make a compromise, alleged the scientist while talking to The Express Tribune.
However, Asif refused to compromise and Rehman asked for an explanation. All four scientists (Dr Nauman Rasool, Muhammad Asif, Dr Zawar Hussain and Nasir Siddique) were asked to explain why they challenged the viewpoint of foreign consultant Dr Muhammad Ashraf Tahir regarding the requirement of compressed air in the DNA section of the laboratory. They were directed to explain their position within three days.
The scientists told The Express Tribune that in January, the laboratory conducted a six-day training course for investigation officers of the police for the use and application of forensic science in investigations. Mehmood enrolled his son, a LLB student, and awarded him a certificate in clear violation of training ethics and rules.
The scientists alleged that their salaries were being given from a bank situated in DHA, 30 kilometres away from where they were posted, as the manager of the bank was Mehmood’s friend.
The scientists requested the chief minister to constitute a committee to probe the irregularities committed in the construction, procurement and other administrative issues of the lab. They said that a polygraph test should be carried out to sort out truth regarding their grievances.
The Punjab government had planned to construct a state-of-the-art forensic science laboratory at a cost of Rs2.5 billion in the outskirts of Lahore. The home department recruited 30 forensic scientists in August 2009.The government awarded the contract to Al Imam Enterprises and HA constructors, who were given a deadline of July 2010 to complete the project. Even after a lapse of 10 months, the laboratory is yet to be completed.
Although Nayyar Mehmood did not deny the occurrence of the incident, he insisted that he did not commit a crime. “If they think I did, they should get a criminal case registered against me,” he said. “I will answer the allegations if the competent authority seeks my point of view”.
The PD added that some scientists were using various tactics to defame his reputation and the laboratory’s progress so far. He also said that the completion of the project was near.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2011.
COMMENTS (197)
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@Anonymous: Hi Could you please help me getting contact of the responsible person of Agency. I am intrested to work there as I have truck load experince and expertise in forensic toxicology and narcotics. Thanks
Just want to know when this facility will be functional.I want to apply for job there, as I have capabilities to run Toxicology and Narcotics divisions/ Labs of the institute.To whom I may contact.Do anyone have CM contact.I sent a mail to Agency, no reply so far. Will appreciate if I am helped. Thanks
@hmm: May this prove to be right. The labs are not still completed. The equipment is yet to installed. Installation of instruments may take more time. How will they call new ones for appointments? If there is source to back this ''expectation'', we can hope for it.
@ammara khawja
The reason behind these expectations is very simple; the D.G has joined and govt is paying a big ammount to him and the govt is also cern about the delay of project so they all want the start of this project
@hmm: what are the reasons behind this expectation?
@hmm: what is the basis of this expectation?
@hmm: Thanks a lot
@anonymous: Okaz thanks for conveying me information
@Aliya: The concerned department send a list of selected candidates whose security clearance is required to Central Police Office or some security agency. Police,with the help of its special staff for this purpose, check the security. The cops see whether there is political affiliation, is there any criminal proceedings against him/her? They may also sought the opinion of local influential persons like Numberdhars in villages, Nazim/councilors and any such other local personality. It is worth mentioning here that almost 100 percent candidates pass this clearance.
@Nadia my expections are at the end of august or begining of september
@ Aliya: police came to the houses of selected candidates for verification of antecedents and security check / clearance. so all those who got checked by police are selected.. and those who didnt.. am sorry for them..
@anon: Wht does means security clearance by police, in security clearance police what does check out of candidates
@hmm: plaz tell me kindly that they will announced result in August or in September
@hmm: almost in ur ideas whn they hired pplz for job
Thanks to PFSA that made it possible to even males. " this is news of more delay. It is also sad that no one even tried to mention the painful period through which applicants are passing."
Mr. Ramzan has rightly pointed out that no one even tried to mention the injustice being meted out to the applicants for Forensic scientists .
@anon: this is news of more delay. It is also sad that no one even tried to mention the painful period through which applicants are passing.
check this out..
http://tribune.com.pk/story/209381/efficiency-and-effectiveness-forensic-science-lab-still-a-drain-on-public-funds/
I fully endorse the above views and urge the Punjab Forensic Science agency to announce the results now.
selected ones know about their selection due to security clearance for which police came to their houses.. :)
PFSA should announce the results now. The appointments may be delayed till completion of project. This will relieve those people who have not been selected and selected ones will be take a sigh of relief.
Dear All. Be Patient. Pray for All. as this PFSA thing is not reliable. But we always keep on getting fake news and deadlines. PFSA has never advertised officially any deadline about the Hiring. Still Management Postion Hiring is in progress. I think PFSA will first complete it's Human Resource so as to Start the Project Fully.
@Nadia
why u only?? some thing special??
no one here provides correct information.. everyone is talking rumors..
@hmm: All guys pray for my best n u also carry on prayers for me
The public service commissions even do not take such a long time to announce the results as has been taken by is state-of-the-art agency.
I have found a job paying 100000/month+benefits so I will not join if called.
@Nadia
I hv applied for job and waiting for call letter jst like many other there.
@hmm: u also applied for job or u r here just giving information to others ppls n if they Appointed to D.G this month then its mean that almost work has been completed of construction just remaining result procedure nw hope so best that they announced as soon as possible
well i guess this job thing is never gonna happen. people have been waiting for more than an year. and after every three to four months.. another extension is given.. this type of wait is really painful. they should atleast tell us. where do v stand now? waiting sucks..
@hmm: u also applied for job or u r here just giving information to others ppls
@Nadia yeh same feeling and same comments from me
@hmm: not very surprising news its so dull news abt result 's being so late ,Information should be correct just one n right at which we can believe ,its double minded news ,not very surprising news its so dry ,i think in one institution remain one information correct
@dddddd and @ Nadia
you would vry surprise to hear:my two frnds work there both of them have different information. one say you people will be called within a month and the other say it may be delayed to december. To whom should I believe?? In my personal point of view call letter will be sent in september.
@hmm: i think u should ask again to ur friend abt result that whn it will come who works in lab then u inform to all us kindly
@ hmm.. please ask your friend who is working there that when will lab become functional?
I hope so that the final result will be announced within a month. I got that information from a frnd who is working there. Its vry hard for me to say any thing 100%. what would they do I simply dn't knw?? I think we should call the forensic lab to get the exact information??
@hmm: Please kindly tell me whn final result will be announced
@hmm:
's it final that result will be final before 14th august
so that doesnt mean that all posts will be advertised again.. am i right?
one of my friend whose security clearance process was conducted by police has left for UK on a scholarship. He is no more able to join the lab. The post will be vacant. There is also a chance for those in waiting list.
Surely, there were some posts for which suitable candidates could not be found or we can say, some posts remained vacant because candidates could not meet the minimum criteria.
@malik where from you got that news?? I dn't think so...
nothing like that dude.. take a chill pill. it may advertise new posts but previous selected candidates will be considered for sure. if anyone else has some different news. please share..
Hey all. I heard a rumour that PFSA is advertising the posts again. Has anyone else heard this ???? Whats the authenticity of this? Is this so or Just a rumour?
That is bad. The man having bad reputation is heading the project.
Nayyer Mahmood earlier badly governed the Punjab Information Department and ruined it with bad policies. Case was investigated against him during his posting in Karachi.
There is another interesting aspect of video clip. There is mention of trillions which is billions actually.....lolz
well inside news is.. lab will start working in december or jan 2012
In the video, the reporter says,''forensics is a complicated branch of science''............lolz
@ammara khawja: Are you sure that the date will be extended again? What is your source of information?
@Zumrad usman: some persons may be able to comment but i am not. @hmm: yes, the date may be extended again.
@Zumrad usman: It is good to see that special discipline of chemistry has been setup in prestigious institution. Hopefully, other new fields may be included in next recruitments.
@Ammara Khawja: asalamoaliakum.we are the pioneer students of Ms Forensic chemistry,from Govt. College lahore and in our course all the things which is necessary to solve the crime,or case we study i shell be very thank full to Chief Minster of Punjab and D.G forensic laboratories that please give us the opportunity.
past suggests 3 times extension in the date.hahaha