KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the home secretary to provide funds to the inspector general of police within a month to set up forensic units in every district of the province.

Justice Salahuddin Panhwar of the SHC also directed the chief secretary and health secretary to comply with the court’s earlier order with regard to improving the investigation of criminal cases.

When the bench took up a criminal appeal for hearing, Keamari SSP-Investigation Anwar Khetran stated in a report that pursuant to the SHC’s order and with the efforts of the additional IG-Karachi they had established 10 forensic units/teams in Karachi division while six such units were in the pipeline.

He maintained that such units/teams were not available in rest of the districts and divisions of the province though the same was the requirement of law particularly in the present situation and with advance technology.

The SSP submitted that it was not a big issue to set up at least one unit in every district with regard to the investigation of heinous crimes, but this could not be done due to non-availability of funds.

The bench observed that the forensic units/teams set up in the provincial metropolis must be trained and skilled in forensic sciences in order to help in achieving the objectives.

It added that the availability of such teams/units at least at the district level was the need of the hour and it could not be delayed for want of funds.

The court directed the home secretary to provide funds to the IGP-Sindh within a month.

It also asked the prosecutor general to constitute a committee within a week in light of the court’s earlier order when an additional prosecutor general (PG) submitted that such a committee had not been constituted but the PG asked for the feedback of all the district prosecutors in the province.

The bench said it would summon the PG if the order was not complied with and also directed the home secretary to depute a focal person to submit a report.

It also said that the chief secretary and health secretary would be directed for appearance in court if its June 28 order was not implemented.

While adjourning the hearing till Sept 27, the bench also put the advocate general, Sindh, on notice and directed the IGP to depute a focal person to assist the court in the case with regard to investigation by the police.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2021