Dua’s father claims ‘marriage certificate is fake’

The father of Dua Zahra, the teenage girl who went missing from Golden Town area of ​​Al-Falah Society on April 16, declared her daughter's marriage certificate as fake and demanded that the girl be brought to Karachi for a transparent and impartial investigation.

Syed Mehdi Ali Kazmi and his wife, the parents of Dua Zahra, said while talking to the media people at his residence that first of all, they are happy that their daughter is alive. "Thanks to the agencies, the federal and provincial governments and the police in this regard," the father said. "If we were wrong, why would we come to the media?" he questioned.

Presenting his registered marriage certificate in front of the media representatives, Syed Mehdi Ali Kazmi said that he got married on May 7, 2005 and even his marriage did not take place 18 years ago "so how could Dua be 18 years old".

He showed a copy of Dua's birth certificate and passport and said that Dua was born on April 27, 2008. Dua was not even 14 years old when the incident took place. Today, April 27, is Dua's 14th birthday. He said he had all the evidence that his daughter is not 18-year-old.

Mehdi Kazmi said that he has never been harsh with his daughter but raised her with great love and affection.

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Dua's father further said that Dua should be brought back to Karachi immediately. A thorough, transparent and impartial investigation of the incident should be carried out so that the real facts come to light.

He said that after bringing Dua to Karachi, she should not be given to him but she should be handed over to the Child Protection Department. Taking a girl under the age of 18 is kidnapping, he said and added that he did not know anybody by the name Zaheer Ahmed.

Dua contacted the boy through a mobile game (Clash of Games). The game also has the facility to make phone calls to the participants. He said that his daughter has been with him for the last 11 days and she is being pressured to give such statements. Dua is saying whatever she is being asked to say.

In response to a question, he said that he did not go anywhere on April 18 let alone Lahore. Only lies are being spread. The Maulana whose name appears on the marriage certificate said that he did not administer Nikah. The marriage certificate is fake and the marriage has not been registered yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2022.