International symposium at UHS: closer collaboration between forensic scientists, justice system stressed

A closer collaboration between forensic scientists and criminal justice system is the only way to put our investigation procedures on a solid scientific footing, thus, helping convict the guilty and protect the innocent. This was stated by experts at an international symposium held here at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Thursday.
The theme of the symposium was "Emerging Trends in Molecular Forensic", which was attended by more than 400 students and faculty members from around 50 universities of the country, besides international experts from Australia, Spain and the Netherlands. The symposium was organized by UHS Department of Forensic Sciences, in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan.
Addressing the symposium, noted criminal justice, counter terrorism, police reforms expert and former IG Police Sindh Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle said that collection of forensic evidence and the application of forensic sciences had become essential to criminal investigations and prosecutions. "DNA analysis has become the new form of scientific evidence and more and more counts now admit DNA-based evidence", he said adding that DNA could be recovered from blood, semen, saliva, hair and other body tissues.
Dr Shoaib Suddle further said that in the developed world, from crime scene to the courtroom, forensic science services were an integral part of investigation. "Pakistani police, however, is still in the 19th century mode. They are just serving the rulers and unless they change themselves into the 'servants of law' nothing would change as far as the deteriorating law and order situation is concerned", he noted.
He stressed the need to start programmes in forensic sciences and criminology in universities. University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences' vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that the role of forensic scientist was to prevent forensic sciences from becoming dubious sciences by making sure that his duty goes smoothly from the crime scene to the trail and ensuring the reliability of the forensic data. Senior Liaison Officer of Australian Federal Police, Morzio Da Re said that under Pakistan Forensic Capacity Building Programme (2009-2014), the Australian government had provided funds to enhance the forensic capacity of Pakistani agencies through a series of training courses for local scientists. UHS Vice-Chancellor Maj Gen Prof Muhammad Aslam (Retd) said that forensic sciences had so far been neglected in Pakistan and this was evident from the fact that till date there was no formal society of forensic scientists established in the country.