KARACHI, May 28: The first national conference on forensic sciences, environmental and applied toxicology, Hepatitis and HIV got under way at a local hotel on Tuesday.

In three marathon sessions, delegates from around Pakistan read out scientific papers.

At the inaugural ceremony, chief guest Dr Asim Hussain, chancellor of Dr Ziauddin Medical University, said that the use of science, scientific principles and advanced technology was imperative to fight crime. “Today’s criminals are using latest technologies, modern weaponry and newer methods of communication for commission of crime. Why can’t we use the latest methods innovated to combat crime and terrorism. Like other fields of activities we need reform in this direction too.”

The chairman of the organizing committee, Dr Ghulam Ali, said medicolegal autopsy, if carefully performed, formed the basis of crime detection in serious crimes like homicide. “It is an initiator of investigation and provides clues for the arrest of a criminal. The conditions of mortuaries in our countries are so pathetic that they cannot be called result-oriented working places.”

Talking about forensic science laboratories in the country, he said that forensic science laboratories had been established in the United Kingdom in 1932, and in the United States in 1934. “Such laboratories were also established in this part of the world in Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi in 1935. Comparison between them speaks a lot about our priorities. Even in this age of molecular biology, where we speak about DNA technologies, our chemical examiners’ labs and forensic labs are still working on the 1930s techniques.”

Associate Prof Dr Kishwer Sultana spoke about death registration. She said that no statistical data was preserved in the country about cause of death. She underlined the need for keeping a record about cause of death and other statistics.

Speaking about “Autopsy service in Pakistan”, Associate Prof Dr Umer Memon said there was a need for improving the condition of mortuaries in the country. He said people should be trained to carry out autopsy in a proper manner.

Associate Prof Dr Niaz Baloch spoke about “brain stem death”. He said: “In our country even after brain death of patients doctors keep the patients on ventilators in order to increase the cost of treatment.”

Speaking about “Autopsy work in Civil Hospital”, Dr Altaf Pervez Qasim stressed the need for upgrading the instruments employed by doctors in medicolegal cases. He said:

Three students of the Sindh Medical College, Rahut, Anum and Huma, presented a rape study. A case study of sodomy was presented by another group of SMC students.