Scientific ground: ‘Forensic scientists and LEA officials must collaborate’
Speakers at symposium discuss importance of forensic evidence for investigation.
Speakers at symposium discuss importance of forensic evidence for investigation.
LAHORE:
A closer collaboration between forensic scientists and the criminal justice system is the only way to place investigation procedures on solid scientific footing, experts said at an international symposium at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Thursday.
The symposium on Emerging Trends in Molecular Forensic was attended by more than 400 students and faculty members from 50 universities in the country and international experts from Australia, Spain and the Netherlands. The event was organised by the UHS Department of Forensic Sciences in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The symposium was aimed at stimulating new ideas and finding fresh perspectives on traditional methods related to molecular forensic biology and its techniques.
Former Sindh Police IG Shoaib Suddle, an expert in criminal justice, counter-terrorism and police reform, said the collection of forensic evidence and the application of forensic sciences had become essential to criminal investigations and prosecution. “DNA analysis has become the new form of scientific evidence. More and more courts now accept DNA-based evidence.” He said DNA could be recovered from blood, semen, saliva, hair and other body tissues. “Pakistani police, however, is still in the 19th century. “Unless they transform themselves into servants of law nothing will change, as far as the deteriorating law and order situation is concerned,” he said. Suddle also stressed the need to start programmes in forensic sciences and criminology in universities.
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice Chancellor Talat Naseer Pasha said the role of forensic scientists was to ensure the reliability of forensic data.
Australian Federal Police Senior Liaison Officer Morzio Da Re said that under the Pakistan Forensic Capacity Building Programme (2009-2014), the Australian government had provided funds to enhance the forensic capacity of Pakistani agencies through a series of training courses for local scientists.
UHS Vice Chancellor Major General (r) Muhammad Aslam said forensics had been neglected in Pakistan, which was evident from the fact that no formal society of forensic scientists had been established in the country.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between UHS and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) on the occasion, which committed to collaboration in academics and research. The UHS VC and the PFSA director general signed the agreement.
UHS Forensic Sciences Department’s head Dr Allah Rakha also spoke on the occasion. The international facilitators of the symposium included Dr Dennis Mc Navin from the University of Canberra in Australia, Dr Manual Fondevila, a forensic expert from the Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and Dr Mannis Van Oven and Dr Oscar Lao from the Department of Forensic Molecular Biology at Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2014.
A closer collaboration between forensic scientists and the criminal justice system is the only way to place investigation procedures on solid scientific footing, experts said at an international symposium at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Thursday.
The symposium on Emerging Trends in Molecular Forensic was attended by more than 400 students and faculty members from 50 universities in the country and international experts from Australia, Spain and the Netherlands. The event was organised by the UHS Department of Forensic Sciences in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The symposium was aimed at stimulating new ideas and finding fresh perspectives on traditional methods related to molecular forensic biology and its techniques.
Former Sindh Police IG Shoaib Suddle, an expert in criminal justice, counter-terrorism and police reform, said the collection of forensic evidence and the application of forensic sciences had become essential to criminal investigations and prosecution. “DNA analysis has become the new form of scientific evidence. More and more courts now accept DNA-based evidence.” He said DNA could be recovered from blood, semen, saliva, hair and other body tissues. “Pakistani police, however, is still in the 19th century. “Unless they transform themselves into servants of law nothing will change, as far as the deteriorating law and order situation is concerned,” he said. Suddle also stressed the need to start programmes in forensic sciences and criminology in universities.
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice Chancellor Talat Naseer Pasha said the role of forensic scientists was to ensure the reliability of forensic data.
Australian Federal Police Senior Liaison Officer Morzio Da Re said that under the Pakistan Forensic Capacity Building Programme (2009-2014), the Australian government had provided funds to enhance the forensic capacity of Pakistani agencies through a series of training courses for local scientists.
UHS Vice Chancellor Major General (r) Muhammad Aslam said forensics had been neglected in Pakistan, which was evident from the fact that no formal society of forensic scientists had been established in the country.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between UHS and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) on the occasion, which committed to collaboration in academics and research. The UHS VC and the PFSA director general signed the agreement.
UHS Forensic Sciences Department’s head Dr Allah Rakha also spoke on the occasion. The international facilitators of the symposium included Dr Dennis Mc Navin from the University of Canberra in Australia, Dr Manual Fondevila, a forensic expert from the Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and Dr Mannis Van Oven and Dr Oscar Lao from the Department of Forensic Molecular Biology at Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2014.