Karachi chemical examination lab non-functional for three months: sources

KARACHI: The chemical examination lab in Karachi has been non-functional for the last three months, sources informed Geo News Monday, seriously impacting investigations of several important cases.

The process of testing of around 5000 samples pertaining to alleged murders, rapes and deaths due to poisoning, has come to a halt due to the absence of a director of the laboratory, the sources said.

The Sindh government had removed Dr Zahid Ansari as the head of the chemical examination lab on September 5. Ansari was removed in case pertaining to discovery of liquor bottles from the room of Sindh lawmaker Sharjeel Memon at a private hospital in Karachi.

The sources informed further that samples at the lab are feared to be wasted as they were being kept at room temperature. They said alcohol traces in blood turn negative with the passage of time.

Due to non-availability of chemical examination reports, the sources said, various cases have been pending in different courts and several accused awaiting bail have been forced to stay in prisons.