‘Sindh’s own DNA lab to strengthen legal system’

Karachi
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has said that his government used all resources in hand and took all the required steps to ensure peaceful and transparent by-election in NA-246 constituency.
Talking to media persons after inaugurating forensic and molecular biology laboratory at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) on Thursday, he said he would make sure that “political mandate of any party was not stolen.”
Qaim disclosed that city-wide ban on pillion riding was clamped without consulting him, as he thought it should be imposed not in the entire Karachi but only in District Central where the main activity was going on.
He emphasised that his government has requested the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) to close down Chashma-Jehlum (CJ) link canal as it is originally a flood canal and could only be operated during times of release of additional water to the rivers. “We have also requested the federal government to implement the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord in its true letter and spirit.”
He mentioned that the undue opening of the CJ link canal would led to shortage of irrigation water in Sindh when the sowing of Kharif season crops was in progress.
Giving a message to the concerned quarters, the CM said that Pakistan People’s Party had led a historical struggle against the proposed Kalabagh Dam and could also protest against undue opening of CJ link canal.
Regarding the new National Finance Commission award, he said the Sindh government had requested the federal finance minister to convene a meeting at the earliest so that proposals and contours of the new NFC award could be discussed in detail.
“Financial privileges entitled to provinces as per the constitution could not be abolished and the Centre should show open-heartedness on the issue to help out the provinces facing financial hardships.”
To a question about statements by former Sindh Home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Qaim rejected all the allegations leveled by Mirza against the PPP and its leadership, saying that he held Mirza’s wife, former speaker of National Assembly Fahmida Mirza, in high regards.
Denying withdrawal of security provided to Mirza by the government, the CM told the media persons that on the contrary his (Mirza’s) security had been rationalised to the maximum extent.
Earlier, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the lab, the chief minister said that the new facility would be helpful for the law-enforcement agencies and other concerned departments to get DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) test results in the minimum possible time of 72 hours or so for speedy provision of justice.
“Beforehand the authorities concerned had to wait for DNA testing results in accidental and crime cases for weeks or even months.”
Qaim said the need for Sindh to have its own DNA testing lab was highlighted on the occasion of tragic bomb blasts on 18 October, 2007 rally, adding the massive sabotage activity had resulted in causalities and injuries to hundreds of activists of the PPP while biological specimens of unidentified bodies had to be sent to forensic labs in Islamabad and Lahore for the DNA testing. Qaim regretfully that said 40 unidentified bodies of the PPP activists had to be buried in graveyard of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh without due identification. “After such bitter experiences, our martyred leader Benazir Bhutto wished that Sindh should have its own lab for the DNA testing.”
He said that after PPP had come into power it assigned the task for setting up the DNA testing lab in Sindh to the Liaquat University in Jamshoro.
The chief minister said the lab would also be helpful in making the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi and National Action Plan more effective.
The CM said the Ziauddin University in Karachi had promised to establish a liver transplantation centre and added that private sector should also come forward for establishing similar centres in the province assured provision of administrative and financial support in this regard. In his welcome speech, LUMHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Naushad Ahmed Shaikh highlighted the importance and use of first DNA testing lab facility in Sindh. He also announced setting up Bilawal Bhutto Medical College.