PESHAWAR: The first-ever DNA laboratory in Khyber Pakhtuunkhwa is set to start operations at Khyber Medical College after a delay of two years.

“We have recruited molecular biologist and would soon be requesting home and tribal affairs department through health department to notify the DNA laboratory,” Prof Hakim Khan Afridi, head of the department of forensic medicine and toxicology at Khyber Medical College, told Dawn.

According to him, standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been prepared for approval of Board of Governors after which the state-of-the-art DNA laboratory would go operational. Meanwhile, four DNA analysts and two technicians would also be employed after the approval of BoG.

The laboratory was approved at a cost of Rs40.5 million in 2013. It was ready to become operational in 2014 but the delay was caused by stay order granted by court against the appointment of molecular biologist.

Operations of the facility delayed for two years due to litigation

“So far, we have been sending DNA samples for analysis to Islamabad and Karachi. It consumes more time and money. The laboratory would enable us to perform the procedures locally and give quick results,” said Prof Afridi.

He said that they needed the laboratory to ensure speedy disposal of justice in cases relating to murder, sexual assaults and age estimation etc.

Mohammad Jamil, the newly-appointed molecular biologist, got MPhil degree from Centre for Applied Molecular Biology University of Punjab. He has eight-year work experience in National Forensic Science Agency, Ministry of Interior Islamabad.

He said that they had planned to impart training to medicolegal officers and help forensic investigation at the district level hospitals. “Once the DNA laboratory is in place, we would be able to identify dead bodies from incidents of terrorism and plane crash etc,” he added.

Mr Jamil said that in future, they would get ISO-17025 certification and establish a DNA bank to pave way for disposal of cases rapidly. He said that machines and equipment required for DNA laboratory were installed two and half years ago. He said that the laboratory would help police and law enforcement agencies in identification of the suicide bombers and tracking down people involved in acts of terrorism.

“We would also be carrying out general investigations to assist court in criminal cases. All the equipment are latest and are in use in UK, the USA and other developed countries,” said Mr Jamil.

Officials at the health department told Dawn that along with DNA laboratory, they also constructed mass calamity hall with storage capacity for 75 bodies. The Number of mortuary tables has also been increased and now six autopsies can be carried out simultaneously.

The officials said that there would be all facilities under one-roof and people would not need to transport the dead bodies anywhere else. “The health department is also creating medicolegal cadre among the doctors, who would be responsible for forensic work only,” they added.

The officials said that KMC would act as an umbrella for the training of the medicolegal officers. They said that the newly-hired molecular biologist had received vast training in China, Korea and Australia. “We want him to lead the trained doctors in forensic work on modern lines,” they added.

The officials said that health department had also allocated Rs60.6 million for upgradation of toxicology section of the forensic science department with a view to conduct investigations on scientific lines.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2016