Dua Zehra’s father files another petition in SHC for her recovery

Syed Mehdi Ali Kazmi says medical board set her age at 15 and coaxing underage girl into marriage is kidnapping

KARACHI:

Dua Zehra's father, Syed Mehdi Ali Kazmi, has filed a new petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) seeking his daughter's recovery from what he says are ‘kidnappers’ who illegally lured a child into marriage.

The petition states that Zaheer Ahmed abducted Dua Zehra and at that time the girl’s age was 13 years, 11 months and 19 days.

Kazmi presented Dua's NADRA documents, educational certificates, passport and birth certificate to prove her proper age.

The petition further stated that Zaheer Ahmed took the abductee to Punjab and married her despite her being a child. The date of marriage is April 17, and Dua's age mentioned age is 18 years to declare the marriage valid.

“The court is requested to order to rescue Dua from the illegal custody of Zaheer Ahmed and hand her over to her parents. The court is also requested to stop Dua from being taken out of the country,” the petition said.

Also read: Board finds Dua aged between 15 and 16 years

Before this petition, another petition was filed on May 7, 2022, in Sindh High Court for Dua Zehra's recovery.

Police produced Dua in the Sindh High Court on June 6. The court had ordered to determine the correct age of Dua. The single medical board formed then stated that she was about 17 years old after bone ossification, after which the court allowed Dua to go with anyone she wanted.

However, according to the new medical board's report, Dua is less than 16 years old.

According to the Punjab Marriage Restraint Act 2016, this marriage is illegal. If sexual abuse is proved with the abductee, action would be taken against the accused Zaheer. Sindh Home Department, IG Sindh, SHO Al-Falah, Zaheer Ahmed and others have been part of the petition.