Karachi (HRNW) The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered a bone ossification test of Dua Zehra to ascertain her age, media reported Monday afternoon. She claims to be 18 years old while her parents insist that she is only 14.
In a joint operation carried out by the Sindh and Punjab police, Dua and Zaheer Ahmed – the young man who she claimed to have married of free will – were recovered from Bahawalnagar on Sunday.
They were presented before the court where the police did not allow Dua’s parents to meet her. Her parents also appeared before the court with their lawyer, Altaf Khoso.
The detailed order issued by the court said that the girl informed the court that she committed a free-will marriage and claimed her age to be 17-18 years.
The order said Dua Zehra also informed the court that her father registered a fake kidnaping case, adding that no findings could conclude that kidnapping was done.
It said that according to the advocate general, no case of underage marriage has been registered so far.
However, the court ruled that it would determine Dua Zehra’s age first before making final decision.
The court ordered to carryout medical test of the girl in two days and ordered to produce her with the medical report on June 8. Till then, Dua Zehra will stay at a shelter home.
During the hearing, Dua reiterated that she is 18 years old and has married 21-year-old Zaheer of free will and now lives with her.
When inquired about her current residential address, Dua responded that she “doesn’t know the details.”
The court was told about her father’s allegation that she was kidnapped, Dua said that she hadn’t been kidnapped.
She also refused to meet her parents, saying that she wants to go with her husband.
“It is important for her to meet the parents,” the parents’ lawyer maintained. “I don’t want to meet [them],” Dua replied.
At the end of the hearing, the court ordered to send Dua to a shelter home where she will stay until her age is determined. The court also ordered the authorities to submit the report within two days.
The hearing was adjourned till June 8.
According to the Sindh police, Dua and her husband were staying at the residence of Zaheer’s brother in Chishtian, Bahawalnagar.
Dua was in the protective custody of the Women Police Station while Zaheer is with the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC).
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