Court hands over custody of Dua Zehra to parents 'permanently'

The family court east in Karachi on Saturday handed over the permanent custody of Dua Zehra, a minor girl who was allegedly kidnapped and married off, to her parents.

The court's decision ensured that Dua Zehra would remain with her parents until she reached adulthood, citing her welfare and well-being as the primary concern.

In its remarks, the court emphasised the importance of providing for the girl's needs, including education and food. The court also ordered the parents to submit a surety bond of Rs 200,000.

During the hearing, the girl had expressed her willingness to live with her parents, and Zaheer Ahmed, the alleged husband, failed to prove any mistreatment by the parents.

On April 16, 2022, the girl’s parents filed a first information report alleging that their daughter had been kidnapped when she left the house to dispose of some trash.

After nearly 10 days, on April 26, the teenage girl was recovered from Okara. 

In a video statement that day, the girl had said that she wasn’t kidnapped and had married Zaheer of her “free will”.

She had also claimed that her parents were lying about her age that she was 16-year-old.

On the other hand, her parents were adamant that their daughter had been kidnapped and said that she had been forced to give the statement.

On July 4, the medical board concluded that the girl was between 15 to 16 years of age. 

Police, on July 16, informed a sessions court in Karachi that 24 persons, including Zaheer, had been found involved in abducting her from Karachi and shifting her to Punjab, where they solemnised the illegal child marriage.

Afterwards, the girl approached a Lahore court on July 19 requesting to be sent to Darul Aman, citing “constant threats” from her parents while also underlining that she was “not on good terms” with Zaheer. 

The court accepted her application and she was shifted to the shelter home.

Later on January 6, 2023, the Sindh High Court temporarily handed over the teenage girl to her parents in Karachi after she told the court that she wanted to live with her family.