Peshawar’s DNA testing lab just for show

Samples are sent to Punjab Forensic Lab and arrive months later which compromises investigations

PESHAWAR:

Taif Khan’s blind murder cases was apparently solved back in February until DNA was declared mandatory for complete identification of the body medically and legally; the DNA samples which were sent two months back for testing are yet to arrive thus stalling arrests and justice to the victim’s family.

This is not the first time a high profile case’s investigation has been stalled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) though as investigators have to sometimes wait for months to get results back from the Punjab Forensic Lab before they can proceed - meanwhile, the Rs40 million DNA testing lab built in Peshawar to avoid such delays collects dust.

Inspector Ghani, the investigating officer in Taif’s murder case, while talking to The Express Tribune said that DNA samples were not submitted to the forensic lab in Peshawar because it takes more time compared to the one in Punjab. “We were told that it would take six months in the Peshawar lab so we contacted the Punjab lab who said it would take roughly two months.” As Ghani awaits the results, so does the young lawyer Taif’s aggrieved family. “The arrests of two women facilitators were made but the real culprits have not yet been arrested yet,” Ghani informed.

The victim’s lawyer, while talking to The Express Tribune, lamented at the fact that a family was being denied justice just because labs could not produce results on the promised time. “Three months have passed and investigators are still saying that culprits will be arrested once the DNA reports become available,” Taif’s lawyer remarked. The Express Tribune learnt from various sources that the Peshawar Forensic Lab which was built back in 2014 with high hopes was in a miserable condition due to initially trained staff having either moved to other districts, choosing to work in the field instead of the lab, or simply not returning to the Peshawar lab once their training at the Punjab Forensic Lab was over. Given the staff shortage, the Peshawar lab’s repute is in tatters.

An officer working in the investigation department of K-P Police, whilst requesting anonymity, bluntly stated he had been working in the department for years and Peshawar’s forensic lab had always failed to produce DNA results in a timely fashion hence the reliance on the Punjab lab. “Investigating officers run away from cases requiring DNA test results. Firstly due to the hassle involved, secondly because officers have to pay the required Rs 25,000 for the test results out of pocket and wait months on end for reimbursement,” the officer disclosed. According to the officer, in a case where he had to pay, it took six months for him to eventually recover the amount.

“When this happens in important cases requiring DNA evidence, you can estimate how many flaws there are in the K-P police investigation department that need to be addressed.” However, a senior official of the Peshawar lab, whilst requesting anonymity denied all the allegations leveled against the lab. “We have the capacity to generate reports within 10 to 15 days; this is evident by our annual output of 500 to 800 reports. However, some reports do take more time as they are dependent on the condition of the body. This too can be reduced if we are given more manpower and resources. As far as fees are concerned, we do not charge any here at our lab,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2022.