August 26, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 23, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 25: The Dr A.Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) has distanced itself from the investigations into the October 18 attacks on Benazir Bhutto’s welcome procession, saying that it had not processed any of the samples regarding missing persons neither had it lost any of the sample.

However, a statement issued by the KIBGE on Monday, clarifying its position on a recent report in this paper, did not refer to the correspondence, which was cited in the report to establish cases of theft and movement of chemicals and other items from the institute to “unknown place.”

“The samples of the October 18 case were deposited in KIBGE. None of the samples were lost from the institute and the samples were handed over to the concerned police officials on their request,” said the statement.

“None of the samples regarding missing persons were processed or analyzed at KIBGE,” it said, adding that the only analysis done at the KIBGE in reference to the October 18 case was on the samples of the suspected bomber.