I congratulate Sindh Assembly on the resolution it unanimously passed recommending DNA testing in rape cases.
JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: I congratulate the Sindh Assembly on the bold resolution it unanimously passed on June 11 recommending that DNA testing be made mandatory in rape cases. In today’s world where we are enjoying unprecedented technological and medical advancements, it boggles the mind why governments wouldn’t want to use that to help needy groups such as victims of rape. Some of us seem to come up with all sort of excuses to not use technology to identify, catch and punish an aggressor to deter him from repeating the shameful crime.
This mindset was recently highlighted when a court ruled that DNA evidence was inadmissible and ended up releasing an alleged rapist. This took place despite the fact that the victim had identified the accused in an identification parade and the DNA test results also authenticated the evidence. This issue was recently also taken up by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) which recommended that DNA evidence should not be used in rape cases and that instead the testimony of eyewitnesses be used.
This is precisely why the resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly needs to be lauded since it seems that the legislature has taken a worthy stand for the rights of rape victims. I would urge that in the light of this resolution, the Sindh Assembly pass appropriate legislation changing the existing law to account for this.
Perhaps, one day, we will be able to come out of dark night which has engulfed the nation since the time of General Ziaul Haq.
Masood Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2013.
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