PESHAWAR, Dec 25: The NWFP government is yet to get a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) laboratory despite pledges made by the United States and the government of Japan, sources said.

“We desperately need a DNA lab in view of the soaring cases of suicide attacks in the Frontier province and tribal areas,” they said, adding that two years ago the United States had shown interest in establishing a laboratory to cope with cases of suicide attacks. There had been a few meetings between US experts and police high-ups to put in place infrastructure for the DNA laboratory and provide training to forensic experts in the US, they said.

Initially, the sources said, establishment of the laboratory would be of little use in the absence of a DNA bank. However, they said, with the establishment of the laboratory, DNA profiling could be done over a period of time that would help in investigating suspected suicide bombers as well as unidentified bodies in the attacks. Use of DNA would be helpful in investigation when profiles of hardened criminals were available, they said.

Due to lack of progress on the DNA laboratory in the province, the sources said, police continued sending about 15 samples for test on monthly basis to the National Forensic Science Agency in Islamabad where a single test cost Rs5,000 and the results were often delayed. Of the total 110 suicide attacks in the past two years in the NWFP and Fata, the government, due to non-existence of a DNA laboratory, has failed to track down the family of alleged suicide attackers by establishing his identity.

“It is a comparative study, the findings of which can be matched with suspected fathers and brothers etc,” the sources said, adding that in the absence of a DNA bank it was also not done.

The US had also sponsored a conference on DNA in a Lahore university one year ago, in which two officials of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Peshawar, had also participated. The two were given training in DNA testing who were later supposed to work in the proposed DNA laboratory and train other experts regarding collection of samples etc, the sources said.

The US, they said, had even started preparation of a feasibility report to set up the DNA laboratory at the department of forensic medicines and toxicology of the Khyber Medical College. A team of experts had held discussions with the staff and the department had offered a huge infrastructure to set up the laboratory.

They said the Japan International Cooperation Agency had also shown interest to assist in establishment of such a laboratory at the KMC that could also be used for research purpose by medical students and teachers.

A year ago, a move by provincial home and health departments to set up a DNA laboratory also proved a non-starter. A committee formed to compile a report about the availability of technical staff for the facility had also given a positive report.

The committee had said facilities for investigating cases of microbiology, ballistics and explosives, chemical examination and toxicology would be made available at the laboratory.

The sources said the government was trying to set up the laboratory, but it did not have the resources. “We need to investigate with latest scientific approach the complex cases of terrorism and crimes,” they said, adding that for this purpose, DNA technology should be used in investigating crimes to trace terrorists and criminals.