IT is to be welcomed that two important laboratory facilities have finally been created in Sindh — a DNA forensic and molecular lab at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences in Jamshoro and a forensic microbiological lab at the Chandka Medical College in Larkana. For years, investigations into crimes such as rape, which can involve DNA tests, have suffered inordinate delays because samples have had to be sent to decently equipped facilities elsewhere in the country. Now, the Sindh police have ready recourse to the required technical expertise. But beyond crimes such as rape or murder, where DNA evidence can be pivotal, there are other issues where these laboratories can make a difference. It is in this context that the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Sindh police has proposed that the provincial government start putting together a DNA database in order to facilitate the identification of unclaimed bodies and the tracing of missing persons. According to documents reviewed by Dawn, it has been suggested to the home department that such a database be initiated. The proposal has also been submitted to the Sindh High Court registrar, given that earlier the bench dealing with the missing persons issue had directed the provincial government to chalk out a strategy in this regard.

This is entirely in the fitness of things. There can be no doubt that the issue pointed out by the CTD is of significant proportions. Between 2005 and 2012, Edhi Foundation reports having buried over 58,000 unclaimed bodies; the charity buries around 100 such poor souls in Karachi alone every month. Meanwhile, the number of people that have disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Sindh, some as far back as in 2010, is moving towards the 300-figure mark. The plight of the families of persons in both these categories is pitiful, and a DNA database could go a long way towards addressing the issue. To be sure, there does exist the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee initiative Shanakht, and morgues do use Nadra’s biometric data. Even so, identification through Nadra’s fingerprint-based records can pose a problem in certain situations, bombings and fires being two of them. A record ought to be maintained of unidentified bodies so that relatives can find closure even after burials have taken place. The bureaucratic and police machinery in Pakistan do generally come under criticism for being Luddite, often for good reason. This can and should change.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2017