Court extends accused's remand in Arzoo case

A local court extended on Friday the physical remand of accused Azhar Ali on the request of the investigation officer (IO) for the Arzoo Masih case, directing the IO to submit Arzoo's DNA report at the next hearing as well.

Ali is accused of abducting Arzoo, said to be 13 years of age, before forcibly converting her to Islam and marrying her.

During the hearing at Karachi City Court, the IO told the judicial magistrate that a medical board had been constituted to determine Arzoo's age on the Sindh High Court's (SHC) orders and it was expected to present a report before the high court on November 9.

Arzoo's statement will be recorded after that, he added.

He further informed the court that Ali's age, too, was yet to be determined and attributed the delay to the accused losing his National Identity Card (NIC). "But we have acquired the NIC of Ali's brother and are collecting the required information from details mentioned on it," he assured.

The accused's counsel, meanwhile, stated that Arzoo had appeared before the SHC on Thursday and maintained she wasn't abducted but had left with Ali of her own will.

At this, the government lawyer objected that the case's investigation was yet to be completed.

The accused's counsel also questioned why Ali was being sent on remand, stating that Arzoo said she had consented to marrying him.

"There are no grounds for pursuing a kidnapping case [against Ali] in light of Arzoo's statement," he argued, adding, "When the nikkah is legal, why is the marriage registrar included in the investigation?"

He further asked why the DNA test had not yet been conducted.

At this, the government lawyer said the court was requested to extend the accused's remand as samples for DNA testing were to be sent to Hyderabad.

Accepting the IO's request to extend Ali's remand until November 10, the court ordered the former to submit the DNA report and a progress report of the case at the next hearing.

Captain Safdar case

Separately, the court ordered the counsel for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's Captain (retd) Safdar to ensure that his client was present at the next hearing of the case pertaining to violating the sanctity of the Quaid's mausoleum.

During the hearing, the IO requested the East judicial magistrate for an extension to submit the case challan, earning the court's ire.

Besides, Safdar's counsel prayed the court to exempt his client from attending the hearing, saying that he was attending a rally in Gilgit-Baltistan and could not be contacted.

At this, the court ordered him to ensure Safdar's attendance at the next hearing on November 9.