Peshawar forensic dept apologises for refusing to keep transgender's body in morgue

Statement says body was not stored in the freezer because of its decomposition

PESHAWAR: The forensic science department of Khyber Medical College (KMC), Peshawar apologised on Monday for refusing to store body of a transgender who was found dead in Darmangi area of the city last week.

In a letter to the provincial health department in response to The Express Tribune's story published on Saturday, the department said the body was not kept in the freezer as it was decomposed.

"Process of putrefaction renders bodies unfit to be put in the freezer, " it said. "This was the only reason for the refusal in the case and no other motive was involved."



Chairman of the department had sought an explanation from the persons concerned soon after the incident was reported.

"Our staff followed standard operating procedures, but if the family members or attendants of the deceased have been hurt by this, [then] we apologise as it was never intended," the department added.

The morgue at the KMC is the only facility in the entire province to store bodies in cold storage.