KARACHI: In a significant move to enhance judicial understanding of forensic science, the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, hosted a one-day training session titled “Interpretation of Forensic DNA and Serology Reports.”
The training, held on the directive of the Honorable Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, brought together 25 judges and judicial officers for an in-depth learning experience on the role of forensic DNA in the criminal justice system.
Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, In-charge and Project Director of SFDL, welcomed the participants on behalf of Prof. Dr. M. Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS. Distinguished guests included Amir Hassan, Director of the CPLC Shanakht Project, and Dr. Amar Hussain, Legal Advisor of SFDL.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Ishtiaq highlighted the importance of forensic DNA analysis in solving criminal cases. He noted that SFDL has provided expert reports in over 8,800 cases, encompassing crimes such as child abuse, murder, kidnapping, and high-profile incidents like the PIA plane crash and the Nooribad and Lasbela road accidents.
He emphasized SFDL’s role as a national hub for forensic capacity building, regularly training judges, medico-legal officers, prosecutors, and crime scene investigators in evidence collection and interpretation techniques.
The session concluded with a robust panel discussion featuring Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, Dr. Amar Hussain, and Amir Hassan. Judges posed technical questions and commended the training’s quality and relevance.
A guided tour of the laboratory followed, during which participants observed the lab’s advanced facilities and procedures firsthand. The judges expressed their appreciation for SFDL’s technical standards and operational excellence.
Certificates were distributed at the end of the session, marking the successful completion of an impactful training initiative aimed at strengthening the synergy between science and the judiciary.
