HYDERABAD: Additional registrar Dr Saroop Bhatia of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, on Saturday rejected the allegations levelled by the management of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), Larkana, regarding release of DNA reports of two deceased medical students who had allegedly committed suicide in their respective hostel rooms.

Nimirta Chandani, a final-year BDS student of Bibi Aseefa Dental College, was found dead in September 2019 and Nosheen Kazmi, a fourth-year MBBS student, in November 2021.

Dr Bhatia said that the LUMHS lab had been providing DNA testing services since 2015 and over 2,500 DNA cases had been processed since its commencement. Many high-profile cases have been solved through DNA tests. The lab not only matches samples for DNA but also guides law enforcement agencies on the basis of the DNA test results, ensures right direction of investigation and identifies culprit.

He said the lab had developed its internal DNA database and stored all DNA profiles obtained from evidence of cases and samples of suspects analysed at the lab. He said that use of DNA database for identification of unknown DNA profiles was a fundamental international practice of DNA labs.

He said that matching of unknown DNA profile obtained from samples of deceased Nosheen [Kazmi] with unknown DNA profile obtained from samples of deceased Nimirta [Chandani] was a routine practice and a function of the DNA lab. It was prime duty of the DNA lab to guide and explain DNA results to investigation agencies as further investigation might be initiated for timely identification of culprit(s) to prevent such incidents/crime in future, he added.

DNA testing reports are kept strictly confidential as it is the most sensitive component of lab functions, even life-threatening for the staff performing tests, he said, adding that the allegations levelled against LUMHS were baseless and aimed at defaming integrity of its DNA lab, which was catering to testing needs of the entire province with highest scientific protocol.

Dr Bhatia said that the report of Nosheen Kazmi was sent confidentially to the authorities concerned on Jan 28 and blaming LUMHS in any way was highly condemnable. He advised management of SMBBMU that instead of blaming other institutions, it should focus on their own issues to identify culprits.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2022