Dua’s father withdraws petition

SC bench stated that case did not fall in purview of their jurisdiction

KARACHI:

The Supreme Court's Karachi registry (SC) on Thursday disposed of a petition filed by Dua Zehra's father, challenging the Sindh High Court's (SHC) decision to allow the teenager to stay with her husband.

A three-judge bench comprising Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazha heard the petition.

The bench stated that the case did not fall in the purview of their jurisdiction, adding that the petitioners must appeal to the relevant forum.

Justice Shah asked whether a medical examination of Dua had been conducted, to which Mehdi Kazmi's counsel, Jibran Nasir, confirmed that the step had been completed.

The court added that while the issue of child marriage is 'understood', a case cannot be made for kidnapping as the teenager had appeared in the court and gave statements at her own will.

Justice Shah remarked that her statements were made in two courts, questioning her father, "What is your problem? If she meets you and says she wants to be with her husband, what will you say?"

While the apex court sympathised with the girl's father, the bench upheld that false accusations cannot be made regarding coercion and kidnapping.

Justice Mazhar added that only a woman can challenge the status of her marriage as the law is clear.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2022.