Ten experts to determine Dua Zehra’s age

The Sindh health department has formed a 10-member special medical board to determine the age of Dua Zehra following court orders. Dow Medical College Principal Professor Saba Sohail will head the Medical Board. At the same time, the Special Medical Board has also included experts from all fields so that the exact age of Dua Zahra can be closely scrutinised. Radiologists from Aga Khan Hospital have also been included in the medical board.

In contrast, dental surgeons, gynaecologists and orthopedists (orthopaedic surgeons) of government hospitals and police surgeon Karachi Dr Samia Syed have also been included in the medical board. The medical board for determining the age of Dua Zehra will be held today (Wednesday), June 29, at Sindh Government Services Hospital. It also includes Sindh Government Services Hospital MS and Civil Surgeon Dr Zubair Agha. X-rays of bones and joints, including the wrists, will be done to determine the age of Dua Zehra, while a dental surgeon will compile his report to determine her age with the help of X-rays of teeth and gums.

Dr Nazli Hussain, Gynecologist in the Medical Board, will also present her report after the medical test to determine the age of Dua Zehra. All safety measures have been completed at Services Hospital for Dua Zehra Medical Board. It should be noted that the Lady MLO in the Civil Hospital had sent a report to the Health Department regarding the age of Dua Zehra earlier, upon which her father approached the court. After that, the court directed the department secretary to form a special medical board to determine the age of Dua Zehra.

Provincial Health Secretary Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah directed the Sindh Government Services Hospital MS to take specific steps to get a medical board. Sindh Government Services Hospital's MS on June 28, informed all the experts in the Medical Board that the Dua Zehra Medical Board would start at 10 am and that the report of the Medical Board will be sealed and sent to the secretary. Among the experts on the medical board are Dr Sikandar Rafique Qureshi, Head of Radiology, Lyari General Hospital; Dr Rani, Department of Radiology, Service Hospital, Karachi; Nazli Hussain, Professor of Gynecology, Civil Hospital, Karachi; Dow Dental College, Dental Department Professor Shah Jahan Kutper, Service Hospital Dental Department Professor Muhammad Iqbal Khalidi, Karachi Police Surgeon Professor Samia Syed, Medical Hospital Medical Superintendent and Civil Surgeon Dr Zubair Agha.

Earlier, The East Judicial Magistrate issued a written order in the case of alleged kidnapping of Dua Zehra. The written order said that the police produced witnesses, Zaheer's statement and a statement of Dua, recorded in the High Court, along with the C-class challan. According to the complainant's counsel, the police challan is based on the age determination report. The complainant's counsel has submitted an application to the health secretary against the medical report stating the age of Dua Zehra. As per the order, the complainant's counsel had said that the age of Dua in the NADRA record is less than 14 years. Therefore the age determination report is false.

The court order said that the public prosecutor did not object to further investigation of the case. It is still questionable how old Dua was when she left the house. One must be old enough to leave home on own will. The complainant's request for further investigation of the case is accepted keeping in view the facts. The court order said, if a medical board is formed, the court should also be informed of the decision. The court directed the investigation officer to submit a supplementary challan after completing further investigation.