Karachi: Experts and government officials have highlighted the importance of forensic DNA in dealing with disaster-like situations and criminal cases that require considerable time and effort to resolve. They said that forensic DNA provides important evidence in the criminal justice system.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 4th symposium on ‘Utility of Forensic DNA in Disaster Management and the Criminal Justice System,’ organized by the SFDL, University of Karachi here Tuesday, they highlighted the crucial role of the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL), established at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, and noted that the conviction rate in Sindh had risen from 3 to 16 percent.

The event was held on Tuesday at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi. The symposium was attended by representatives of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Rangers, police, judiciary, Red Cross, and various welfare and disaster management organizations.

The inaugural session was addressed by several prominent figures, including Justice Rashida Asad, Director General, Sindh Judicial Academy; Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Director, ICCBS; Ms. Nadira Panjwani, Chairperson, Dr. Panjwani Memorial Trust; and Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, Project Director and In-charge, SFDL.

Special Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Sindh, Muhammad Ibrahim Memon was also present on the occasion.

Justice Rashida Asad, who was the chief guest on the occasion, showed keen interest in learning about forensic DNA and said that an in-depth understanding of DNA was fascinating. She said forensic DNA analysis could help identify or exclude individuals by comparing DNA found at a crime scene with DNA obtained from suspects or other samples. She added that it could therefore assist criminal investigations and court proceedings. She appreciated the team of experts at the SFDL for assisting the criminal justice system by producing high-quality forensic DNA reports in criminal cases.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman said that the SFDL was doing an excellent job by providing high-quality reports, while its impressive performance required further technological advancement. He urged government authorities to treat the matter as a priority and provide continued support at the highest level. He also informed the participants about the remarkable capabilities of DNA, saying that DNA was like a biological blueprint or identity code of a person.

Prof. Muhammad Raza Shah said that no nation could achieve economic progress without making significant advances in science and technology. He said that the role of forensic DNA in solving cases related to disasters and the criminal justice system could not be ignored. He said the conviction rate in Sindh had risen from 3 to 16 percent following the establishment of the SFDL. He said the laboratory’s high-quality reports in thousands of cases demonstrated that the state-of-the-art facility was fulfilling the province’s needs by providing comprehensive DNA and serology services. Prof. Raza Shah also thanked the Government of Sindh for its continued support.

Ms. Nadira Panjwani highlighted the performance of the Dr. Panjwani Center in providing research training to highly qualified professionals in emerging fields of molecular medicine and drug development. She also underlined the importance of forensic DNA and quoted the idea that DNA is a ‘visiting card’ that a criminal may leave behind at a crime scene.

Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan delivered a vote of thanks and said that forensic DNA analysis is not merely a tool for solving the crimes of today; it is the very foundation upon which we will build a more just, accountable, and prepared tomorrow.

Other sessions of the symposium were also addressed by experts and officials, including Dr. Summaiya Syed, Chief Police Surgeon; Mr. Amir Hassan, Director, Shanakht Project, CPLC; Dr. Amar Hussain, Legal Adviser, SFDL, and Prof. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan.

In her address, Dr. Summaiya Syed said that medicolegal protocols for mass disasters and the identification of deceased victims had been adopted from international protocols and adapted to the context of resource-constrained settings in a metropolis such as Karachi. She said the Office of the Police Surgeon, Karachi, had developed proformas and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling mass disasters, which were successfully utilized during the Gul Plaza incident.

She said that, given that DNA analysis is a time-sensitive process depending on several crucial variables, it is important to understand that DNA may not always provide the desired answers. The medicolegal examination and crime-scene investigation need to be comprehensive and should address all possible gaps, she added.

Karachi: Experts and government officials have highlighted the importance of forensic DNA in dealing with disaster-like situations and criminal cases that require considerable time and effort to resolve. They said that forensic DNA provides important evidence in the criminal justice system.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 4th symposium on ‘Utility of Forensic DNA in Disaster Management and the Criminal Justice System,’ organized by the SFDL, University of Karachi here Tuesday, they highlighted the crucial role of the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL), established at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, and noted that the conviction rate in Sindh had risen from 3 to 16 percent.

The event was held on Tuesday at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi. The symposium was attended by representatives of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Rangers, police, judiciary, Red Cross, and various welfare and disaster management organizations.

The inaugural session was addressed by several prominent figures, including Justice Rashida Asad, Director General, Sindh Judicial Academy; Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Director, ICCBS; Ms. Nadira Panjwani, Chairperson, Dr. Panjwani Memorial Trust; and Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, Project Director and In-charge, SFDL.

Special Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Sindh, Muhammad Ibrahim Memon was also present on the occasion.

Justice Rashida Asad, who was the chief guest on the occasion, showed keen interest in learning about forensic DNA and said that an in-depth understanding of DNA was fascinating. She said forensic DNA analysis could help identify or exclude individuals by comparing DNA found at a crime scene with DNA obtained from suspects or other samples. She added that it could therefore assist criminal investigations and court proceedings. She appreciated the team of experts at the SFDL for assisting the criminal justice system by producing high-quality forensic DNA reports in criminal cases.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman said that the SFDL was doing an excellent job by providing high-quality reports, while its impressive performance required further technological advancement. He urged government authorities to treat the matter as a priority and provide continued support at the highest level. He also informed the participants about the remarkable capabilities of DNA, saying that DNA was like a biological blueprint or identity code of a person.

Prof. Muhammad Raza Shah said that no nation could achieve economic progress without making significant advances in science and technology. He said that the role of forensic DNA in solving cases related to disasters and the criminal justice system could not be ignored. He said the conviction rate in Sindh had risen from 3 to 16 percent following the establishment of the SFDL. He said the laboratory’s high-quality reports in thousands of cases demonstrated that the state-of-the-art facility was fulfilling the province’s needs by providing comprehensive DNA and serology services. Prof. Raza Shah also thanked the Government of Sindh for its continued support.

Ms. Nadira Panjwani highlighted the performance of the Dr. Panjwani Center in providing research training to highly qualified professionals in emerging fields of molecular medicine and drug development. She also underlined the importance of forensic DNA and quoted the idea that DNA is a ‘visiting card’ that a criminal may leave behind at a crime scene.

Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan delivered a vote of thanks and said that forensic DNA analysis is not merely a tool for solving the crimes of today; it is the very foundation upon which we will build a more just, accountable, and prepared tomorrow.

Other sessions of the symposium were also addressed by experts and officials, including Dr. Summaiya Syed, Chief Police Surgeon; Mr. Amir Hassan, Director, Shanakht Project, CPLC; Dr. Amar Hussain, Legal Adviser, SFDL, and Prof. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan.

In her address, Dr. Summaiya Syed said that medicolegal protocols for mass disasters and the identification of deceased victims had been adopted from international protocols and adapted to the context of resource-constrained settings in a metropolis such as Karachi. She said the Office of the Police Surgeon, Karachi, had developed proformas and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling mass disasters, which were successfully utilized during the Gul Plaza incident.

She said that, given that DNA analysis is a time-sensitive process depending on several crucial variables, it is important to understand that DNA may not always provide the desired answers. The medicolegal examination and crime-scene investigation need to be comprehensive and should address all possible gaps, she added.

Karachi: Experts and government officials have highlighted the importance of forensic DNA in dealing with disaster-like situations and criminal cases that require considerable time and effort to resolve. They said that forensic DNA provides important evidence in the criminal justice system.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 4th symposium on ‘Utility of Forensic DNA in Disaster Management and the Criminal Justice System,’ organized by the SFDL, University of Karachi here Tuesday, they highlighted the crucial role of the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL), established at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, and noted that the conviction rate in Sindh had risen from 3 to 16 percent.

The event was held on Tuesday at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi. The symposium was attended by representatives of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Rangers, police, judiciary, Red Cross, and various welfare and disaster management organizations.

The inaugural session was addressed by several prominent figures, including Justice Rashida Asad, Director General, Sindh Judicial Academy; Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, Director, ICCBS; Ms. Nadira Panjwani, Chairperson, Dr. Panjwani Memorial Trust; and Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, Project Director and In-charge, SFDL.

Special Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Sindh, Muhammad Ibrahim Memon was also present on the occasion.

Justice Rashida Asad, who was the chief guest on the occasion, showed keen interest in learning about forensic DNA and said that an in-depth understanding of DNA was fascinating. She said forensic DNA analysis could help identify or exclude individuals by comparing DNA found at a crime scene with DNA obtained from suspects or other samples. She added that it could therefore assist criminal investigations and court proceedings. She appreciated the team of experts at the SFDL for assisting the criminal justice system by producing high-quality forensic DNA reports in criminal cases.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman said that the SFDL was doing an excellent job by providing high-quality reports, while its impressive performance required further technological advancement. He urged government authorities to treat the matter as a priority and provide continued support at the highest level. He also informed the participants about the remarkable capabilities of DNA, saying that DNA was like a biological blueprint or identity code of a person.

Prof. Muhammad Raza Shah said that no nation could achieve economic progress without making significant advances in science and technology. He said that the role of forensic DNA in solving cases related to disasters and the criminal justice system could not be ignored. He said the conviction rate in Sindh had risen from 3 to 16 percent following the establishment of the SFDL. He said the laboratory’s high-quality reports in thousands of cases demonstrated that the state-of-the-art facility was fulfilling the province’s needs by providing comprehensive DNA and serology services. Prof. Raza Shah also thanked the Government of Sindh for its continued support.

Ms. Nadira Panjwani highlighted the performance of the Dr. Panjwani Center in providing research training to highly qualified professionals in emerging fields of molecular medicine and drug development. She also underlined the importance of forensic DNA and quoted the idea that DNA is a ‘visiting card’ that a criminal may leave behind at a crime scene.

Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan delivered a vote of thanks and said that forensic DNA analysis is not merely a tool for solving the crimes of today; it is the very foundation upon which we will build a more just, accountable, and prepared tomorrow.

Other sessions of the symposium were also addressed by experts and officials, including Dr. Summaiya Syed, Chief Police Surgeon; Mr. Amir Hassan, Director, Shanakht Project, CPLC; Dr. Amar Hussain, Legal Adviser, SFDL, and Prof. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan.

In her address, Dr. Summaiya Syed said that medicolegal protocols for mass disasters and the identification of deceased victims had been adopted from international protocols and adapted to the context of resource-constrained settings in a metropolis such as Karachi. She said the Office of the Police Surgeon, Karachi, had developed proformas and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling mass disasters, which were successfully utilized during the Gul Plaza incident.

She said that, given that DNA analysis is a time-sensitive process depending on several crucial variables, it is important to understand that DNA may not always provide the desired answers. The medicolegal examination and crime-scene investigation need to be comprehensive and should address all possible gaps, she added.