Balochistan Devoid of Forensics Laboratory

QUETTA:  There is no forensics laboratory in entire province of Balochistan which has also only two designated posts of medico-legal officers while the women police officers are not authorized to register First Information Reports.

This was revealed during the one day consultative meeting organized by National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and the ALPH Consultants and Advocates on a study ‘Police Reporting, Investigation Mechanisms, Political Interference and [Lastly] Safety and Security/Harassment of the Victims from PolicePerspective’ here a local hotel on the other day. The meeting was organized as part of the research process to seek comments and recommendations from the experts and stakeholders on the report.

Objectives of thestudy include: review of complaint system, police reporting, investigationmechanisms, the institutional response, services, and mechanisms for access tothese services from gender perspective; identification of ways and means ofpolitical interference in policing; identification of ways and means ofdiscrimination meted out to women by the law enforcement agenciesincludingpolice and other relevant institutions; and review the resources and methods ofdata collection and monitoring of institutional performance at gender crimecell. The research was shared by Muhammad Aftab Alam, Executive DirectorALPHConsultants and Advocates, a research-based consultancy, and discussed by Justice(R) Mehta Kailash Nath Kohli who also chaired the meeting.

The study revealedthat there is no forensic laboratory in the entire province and there are onlytwo designated posts for medico-legal officers in the entire province. Theabsence of such facilities, which are extremely important for timely andaccurate completion of investigation process hampers the timely completion ofthe investigation of the crimes.

Justice (R) Kohlishared that Pakistan has only 11.66% of conviction rate, which was even lowerthan the regional countries like India. The fundamental reason of such lowestconviction rate was because of faulty investigation process and loss ofevidence due to absence of forensic labs in the province and laws for theprotection of witnesses. He also stressed the need for a comprehensive reviewof laws and promulgation of new legislation that could ensure protection ofrights of women.

He regretted over theloop holes in the prosecution system and said that when prosecution failed tocollect evidences and later produced before the court, how Judge could convictan accused. He stressed for amendments for tougher laws for the trial ofterrorists and the onus should be on accused instead of prosecution. Hementioned the murders of two judges in Karachi in recent past and said thatprotection should be provided to judges.

Referring UnitedStates, he said that Judges had much protection and so much so, the judgesheard the cases while sitting behind tainted glasses to hide their identity.

He also regretted overthe appointment of judges even of apex courts contrary to merit and said thatso much so the candidates could not qualify the exams for session judges wereappointed in high courts as judges.  He said that when merit was ignoredin judges’ appointment how one could expect merit in the judgments.

Ms. Rikhsana AhmadAli, member of NCSW in Balochistan highlighted the need of women policestations and said that women police stations should set up in whole province atdistrict level with more trained and well-equipped staff.

http://www.thebalochhal.com/2011/12/balochistan-devoid-of-forensics-laboratory/