ISLAMABAD: The capital police have convinced the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) to send them monthly bills instead of directly charging officials who took samples to the laboratory for tests and analysis.

Earlier, police officials used to take samples to the PFSA for forensic test/analysis and deposited the fee there.

The police officials concerned paid the fee from their pocket but later got the amount reimbursed from the complainants, a senior official told Dawn.

But this practice led to corrupt practices as the officials taking the samples to the lab minted money on the pretext of cost of investigations etc.

In order to curb the practice, senior police officers approached the PFSA with a request that bills should directly be sent to the capital police which was accepted.

The official said from now the PFSA would send the bills to the capital police on a monthly basis.

A letter written to the capital police by the director administration at the PFSA said: “It is stated that the case analysis fee is applicable to all departments other than Punjab Government.”

It said the fee should be submitted with case/samples in the form of a bank draft in favour of the director general PFSA, Lahore.

“However, as per the request, the matter has been examined and discussed at length with authorities. Therefore, it is suggested that the case may be deposited without the analysis fee to the PFSA pertaining to the Islamabad capital police.”

Accordingly, the report will be issued whereas later the requisite analysis fee may be submitted through a bank draft against bills or vouchers from the PFSA.

An analysis of samples in murder and rape cases costs at least Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 while narcotics and liquor analysis fee is Rs2,500 to Rs5,000.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2018