PESHAWAR: A high-tech forensic science laboratory will start operations by end of July next year to ensure dispensation of justice in the militancy-stricken districts of Malakand division, according to officials.

They said that the new laboratory would also reduce burden on the Peshawar-based lone understaff and ill-equipped forensic science laboratory (FSL), which received 100,000 samples per year.

They said that on the request of provincial government in 2012, United Nations Development Programme agreed to extend financial help to set up a regional FSL for the seven districts of Malakand division where people were affected by violence and deterioration of law and order.

Following its launching in July this year, the FSL would be handed over to the provincial government after one year, officials said. It will provide diagnostic services to thespecimens in the districts of Malakand to ensure quick dispensation of justice. The people of Malankand remained under Taliban`s rule from 2007 to 2009.

Ahmed Mustafa Khan, a UNDP employee, told Dawn that the laboratory was being built as one of the components of `strengthening rule of law` project to improve legal system and strengthen police. Its cost was around $4.5 million, with 75 per cent coming from UNDP and 25 per cent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The laboratory, with bullet-proof building, has acquired the services of 20 high-trained forensic experts and 45 auxiliary staff to investigate criminal cases to help in issuance of prompt and error-free report and ensure justice to the people.

It will have facilities to analyse cases of firearm injury (FAI), chemical, narcotics, document, age determination and sexual assaults.

Services like forensic photographyand microscopic analysis have also been put in place in the laboratory, which is fitted with fire extinguishers, smoke detector and fire boxes, Mr Khan said.

He said that another FSL was being built in Peshawar. `UNDP is doing a study for the government to see the possibility,` he said. The province required more FSLs to lessen load on the existing one in Peshawar, he said.

Officials at health department said the FSL was extremely needed in Malakand. The government will also establish coordination for cases which it presently sent outside the province. `There`s always room for contamination of results in cases of terrorism and narcotics due to which the accused get away with their crimes,` they said.

Officials said that judges of superior courts had always been directing for production of forensic evidence but in majority cases the instructions couldn`t be fulfilled inthe face of nonexistence of facilities. An ambitious plan was devised four years ago to have a forensic science laboratory by the name of `Paklandyard` for provision of forensic services to improve conviction rate in criminal cases.

Its directorate was supposed to be set up on modern lines with a BPS-20 director-general, six directors in BPS-19 and as many deputy directors in BPS-17 and BPS-18 with having sections for DNA, medico legal examinations, firearm and tool mark, drug testing, food, pathology and serology, crime investigation support, forensic investigation and quality assurance. But the plan never saw light of the day.

Presently the government sends samples of DNA and chemicals to Forensic Science Agency Punjab which consumes time and well as more money.

The plan prepared by experts had also proposed forensic investi-gation section to secure and preserve crime scene and ensure safe transportation of evidence and collectoftrace evidence.

Officials, involved in preparation of the plan, said that the proposedlaboratorywas also supposed to impart forensic training to the medico legal of ficers in all districts of the province. Presently, medical officers were required to treat patients and also did forensic work, for which they weren`t trained, of ficials said.

Of ficials said that medical examination report, forensic toxicology, pathology and histology, forensic serology, DNA analysis, firearm and tool mark analysis, trace evidence chemical analysis and forensic knowledge management were part of the FSL. The government, they said, should also approach UNDP to implement the plan of establishment of Paklandyard to ensure rule of law in the province.

Ashfaq Yusufzai