 temporarily returned the teenage girl's custody to her parents){kind=link}
Dua Zehra case: On Friday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) temporarily returned the teenage girl’s custody to her parents after she had gone missing from Karachi in April 2022 and subsequently been discovered to have wed Zaheer Ahmed, 21, in Lahore.
The 14-year-old was also brought before the court today as Justice Iqbal Kalhoro of the SHC heard the case.
Justice Kalhoro questioned the girl about her preference for staying with her parents or at the shelter home during the hearing. The 14-year-old expressed to the judge her desire to remain with her parents.
Dua Zehra case: The court ordered parents, Mehdi and Saima Kazmi to post a bond in the amount of Rs. 1 million. However, the trial court will decide who will have the girl’s permanent custody.
A child protection officer and female police officers shall visit the girl each week, the court further ordered. Additionally, it stated that following a discussion with the teenager, the child protection officer would report to the court.
Justice Kalhoro also ordered that the girl will not be allowed to leave Pakistan until the case is decided.
Meanwhile, Zaheer’s lawyer argued that the petition is inadmissible. “The girl was kept in a shelter home on court orders. It is not a case of habeas corpus,” added the lawyer.
He also said that Zaheer should be allowed to meet with the girl.
There must be changes to stop child marriage.
Jibran Nasir, the girl’s attorney, applauded the choice and declared that the youngster is finally returning home after a seven-month battle.
Jibran stated on Twitter that there are numerous lessons to be learned from this case and that measures are required to stop child weddings.