Dua Zehra case

Last updated
Dua Zehra case
Court Sindh High Court
VerdictThe case doesn't warrant the charge of kidnapping and Dua Zehra is free to decide her fate. Later, her custody was granted to her parents.
DefendantZaheer Ahmed (husband)
Plaintiff(s)Mehdi Ali Kazmi (father)
Keywords
Child marriage

Dua Zehra Kazmi is a girl from Karachi, Pakistan who went missing from her home on 16 April 2022 [1] and days after was found, married to a boy in Okara, Punjab. [2] The case made headlines across the country and continued to dominate the news cycle for months. [3]

Contents

After she was traced on 26 April 2022, she said that she left her home on her own free will and defended her marriage to Zaheer Ahmed claiming to be 18 years old. [4] Her parents fought a long legal battle for her return, asserting her marriage to be child marriage. [5]

Background

On 16 April 2022 her parents reported to Police that Dua Zehra went missing from Alfalah Town. [1] CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah took notice of the case and IG Sindh formed a team to recover her. [6] Ten days later she was traced to Okara, Punjab, and found to be married to a boy named Zaheer Ahmed in Lahore. [2] In a video message released she said she left her home on her own free will and claimed to be 18 years old. [7] She was presented to a magistrate in Lahore where after her statement she was allowed to go with her husband. [8] Her parents on other hand argued that she is a minor as per Nadra's record and can't get married. [9]

Investigation

According to Police, Dua Zehra and Zaheer Ahmed became friends on social media from where they proposed to marry. She married Zaheer in Lahore after leaving her home in Karachi and according to her Nikahnama, the bride's age was 16 while the groom was 21. Her parents moved to Sindh High Court for determination of her age. [10] The High Court asked Police to present her before the court. Police for weeks failed to recover her [11] as the couple went into hiding again. From Lahore they went on till Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, and were finally recovered from Bahawalnagar, Punjab, on 5 June 2022. [12] She was brought to Karachi and a medical test was conducted where her age was determined to be 16–17 years old by the Police's surgeon. [13] The High Court ruled that the case doesn't warrant the charge of kidnapping and she's free to decide her fate. [14] The Lahore High Court also stopped the police from harassing Zaheer's family and viewed no case of abduction was found. [15] Sindh Police also filed in court for the quashing of the charges after the High Court's ruling. [16]

Later developments

Dua Zehra's father Mehdi Ali Kazmi challenged the Sindh High Court's verdict in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir assisted Nabeel Kolachi, who moved the petition contending that the High Court had erred in not giving minor's custody to parents. The Supreme Court disposed off the petition asking them to approach a proper forum for determination of child marriage as two courts have ruled against kidnapping in the case specifically allowing the Petitioner to approach the relevant forum for constitution of a medical board and noting that any and all observation in respect of age of minor by the High Court would not be an impediment and/or would be disregarded [17]

Afterwards, Dua's father filed in a Karachi court for the constitution of a medical board to determine her age. The court allowed for it and a 10-member medical board was constituted by the Sindh Health Department. [18] The medical board viewed that her age is between 14 and 16 years old. [19] [20]

Later on Dua Zehra made a plea in court to be shifted to Darul Aman alleging threats from parents and also not being on good terms with her husband. [21] She was then shifted to Darul Aman. On the order of Sindh High Court she was moved back to Karachi to remain in the custody of the Child Protection Bureau for trial. [22] [23] On January 6, 2023, Dua Zehra's custody was granted to the parents. Dua Zehra asked the court to go back In a further twist in the case, Karachi Police later told the court that 24 people, including Dua's purported husband Zaheer, were found to be involved in the abduction and child marriage [24] While on the other hand Dua's father sought the removal of the Investigation Officer which the court granted and asked the new IO to submit challan in the case. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazim Hussain Siddiqui</span> Pakistani judge (1940–2022)

Nazim Hussain Siddiqui a Pakistani jurist who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, from 31 December 2003 to 29 June 2005.

The 12 May Karachi riots, also known as Black Saturday riots, were a series of violent clashes between rival political activists in Karachi. The violence resulted in 58 killings of ethnic Pashtuns. The unrest began as the recently suspended chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry arrived at the Jinnah International Airport on 12 May 2007. Gunfights and clashes erupted across the provincial capital as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) activists, who supported the judge, and the pro-government Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists took to the streets against each other.PMLN and MQM party workers were accused of launching highly coordinated attacks against both ANP and PPP supporters.Government machinery was used to block all major roads. Police was accomplice and a silent spectator to the violence. News media was attacked at Guru Mandir when MQM activists began firing at AAJ TV headquarters which was shown on live television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High courts of Pakistan</span>

There are five high courts of Pakistan, each based in the capital city of the four provinces, plus one in the federal capital, Islamabad. Articles 192 to 203 of the Constitution of Pakistan outline the constitution of the courts, appointment of the judges, their oath of office, and jurisdiction of the high courts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindh Police</span> Police force in Sindh, Pakistan

The Sindh Police, is a law enforcement agency established in 1843 under a proclamation issued by Sir Charles Napier, who became the conqueror of the State of Sindh by defeating the forces of the Talpur rulers at the battle of Miyani near Hyderabad on 20 March 1843. Ever since its inception, the organization was raised on the model of the Royal Irish Constabulary to maintain law and order and law enforcement in Sindh, Pakistan. The department serves an area of ~140,914km2 and has about 280,000 police officers and staff to serve in the department. Riffat Mukhtar is the current Inspector-General of Police, appointed in August 2023.

Religious discrimination in Pakistan is a serious issue for the human rights situation in modern-day Pakistan. Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Shias, and Ahmadis among other religious minorities often face discrimination and at times are even subjected to violence. In some cases Christian churches and the worshippers themselves have been attacked. Khawaja Nazimuddin, the 2nd Prime Minister of Pakistan, stated: "I do not agree that religion is a private affair of the individual nor do I agree that in an Islamic state every citizen has identical rights, no matter what his caste, creed or faith be".

Factories in Pakistan's two largest cities of Karachi and Lahore caught fire on 11 September 2012. The fires occurred in a textile factory in the western part of Karachi and in a shoe factory in Lahore. The fires are considered to be the most deadly and worst industrial factory fires in Pakistan's history, killing 289 people and seriously injuring more than 600.

On 25 December 2012, university student Shahzeb Khan was murdered in a targeted revenge killing in Karachi, Pakistan. The initial lack of action from police in apprehending Shahzeb Khan's killers sparked countrywide outrage and protests against the abuse of power by the wealthy in Pakistan. On 7 June 2013 Shahrukh Jatoi, son of feudal Sikandar Jatoi and Siraj Talpur, from the Talpur clan, were sentenced to death for this crime, while Sajjad Solangi and Ghulam Murtaza Lashari were sentenced to life imprisonment for aiding the two killers. However, in September 2013 Shahzeb's parents, DSP Aurangzeb Khan and Ambreen Aurangzeb, decided to file an affidavit with the court pardoning all four accused and requesting their release, the Sindh High Court released the culprits on 23 December 2017. On 1 February 2018 the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered both the case to be reopened before the SHC and the accused persons to be retaken into custody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rabiya Javeri Agha</span> British Pakistani journalist and civil servant (born 1963)

Rabiya Javeri Agha is the Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in Pakistan, and a retired civil servant officer who served in the Government of Pakistan in BPS-22 grade as Federal Secretary. She was the first unanimously elected female President of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) Officers Association, and she has had an extensive career ranging from human rights, women's development, sustainable tourism, energy, finance and trade.

Uzair Jan Baloch is a Pakistani gangster and former crime lord originally from Karachi, Pakistan. He was a key figurehead of Karachi underworld and notorious gang war in his hometown, Lyari, at his peak around 2012. Baloch is accused in various cases involving murder, extortion, drug trafficking, terrorism, and after being arrested many times, became a fugitive wanted by law enforcement agencies. Due to his influential ties, it is alleged that Baloch enjoyed political patronage and was "protected" by the ruling PPP from facing charges but was eventually nabbed after intervention of federal authorities. Baloch denies all the charges against him and says they are "politically motivated". He is also the former chief of the Peoples Aman Committee, which was a militant group linked to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rao Anwar</span> Sindh police officer known for extrajuducial killings

Rao Anwar Ahmed Khan is a retired Pakistani police officer who served as a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in the Malir District of Karachi. He is known as the "encounter specialist" of the Sindh Police because of his extrajudicial killings in alleged encounters, carrying out at least 444 killings between 2011 and 2018. After the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, Anwar was suspended from his post on 20 January 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Wazir</span> Pakistani politician and activist

Muhammad Ali Wazir is a Pakistani politician who is the co-founder of a human rights movement, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). He had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till August 2023. During his student life, he was active in the Pashtun Students Federation (PSF), an allied wing of the Awami National Party (ANP).

Haleem Adil Sheikh is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh from August 2018 to August 2023, and had served as Leader of the Opposition of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh from January 2021 to July 2023. Sheikh served as the parliamentary leader of PTI in Provincial Assembly of Sindh from August 2018 to January 2021, and was the president of PTI for Sindh from 21 July 2019 to 25 December 2021.

Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui is a Pakistani politician who is the current Mayor of Karachi. He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan from August 2017 to March 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hascol Petroleum</span>

Hascol Petroleum Limited is a Pakistani oil marketing company which is active in downstream sector. It is based in Karachi, Pakistan.

Events from the year 2020 in Pakistan.

The Aurat Azadi March was started in 2018 in Pakistan by members of Women Democratic Front, other organizations like Women's Action Forum, Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls alliance, Young Teachers Association, Home-Based Women Workers Union, Awami Workers Party, Awami Jamhoori Party also joined the march on International Women's Day in Islamabad. Aurat Azadi March and Aurat March are organized by different groups of women since 2018. Aurat Azadi March is organized by group of socialist feminists whereas Aurat March is organized by group of liberal feminists. Aurat March was also started the same year by the group of individual women known as "Hum Aurtein" collective in Karachi and Lahore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suhail Zaheer Lari</span> Pakistani historian and author (1936–2020)

Suhail Zaheer Lari was a Pakistani historian and author who focused on research and documentation of the history of the Sindh region in Southern Pakistan. He was a co-founder of the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, a conservation organization which sought to drive awareness to the region's art, architecture, and cultural heritage.

National Women's Day in Pakistan is 12 February of each year, chosen to mark the first women's march in Pakistan against the Zia ul Haq's military regime. The date 12 February 1983 is significant in the history of women's rights in Pakistan because the first such march was brutally suppressed by the martial law enforced by the police of General Zia ul Haq's regime. The Day is over three weeks before International Women's Day when the Aurat Marches take place in Pakistan.

Zulfiqar Ali Sangi, is a Pakistani jurist serving as a Justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) since 29 August 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 Lodhi, Salman (2022-04-19). "Teenage girl 'abducted' from Karachi's Alfalah Town". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  2. 1 2 "Location of Karachi teenage girl Dua traced: CM Sindh". The Express Tribune. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  3. ↑ Web Desk (2022-07-21). "Timeline of the Dua Zahra case". Aaj English TV. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  4. ↑ Siraj, Sarah (2022-04-26). "Dua Zehra requests parents not to interfere in a video message". BOL News. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  5. ↑ Dawn.com (2022-07-04). "Dua Zehra timeline: A complex case of alleged kidnapping vs legal marriage". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  6. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2022-04-21). "Police teams formed to find 'kidnapped' girl in Karachi". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  7. ↑ Desk, Entertainment (2022-06-14). "Dua Zehra ask parents to accept her and Zaheer with big heart". Global Village Space. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  8. ↑ Bilal, Imran Gabol | Rana (2022-04-26). "Lahore court says 'missing' Karachi girl Dua Zehra free to go wherever she wants". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  9. ↑ "Mysterious Nature of Dua Zehra Case". Daily Times. 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  10. ↑ Tanoli, Ishaq (2022-05-08). "Father moves SHC for recovery of Dua Zehra". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  11. ↑ Tanoli, Ishaq (2022-05-31). "Sindh police chief shown the door for failing to recover Dua Zehra". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  12. ↑ Hassan, Imtiaz Ali | Qazi (2022-06-05). "Missing Karachi teenager Dua Zehra recovered from Bahawalnagar: police". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  13. ↑ "Ossification test reveals Dua Zahra's age 16 or 17". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  14. ↑ Baloch, Shafi (2022-06-08). "'She is completely free': SHC allows Dua Zehra to decide who she wants to stay with". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  15. ↑ "LHC restrains police from harassing Dua Zehra's in-laws". The Express Tribune. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  16. ↑ Sahoutara, Naeem (2022-06-16). "Sindh police asks court to quash Dua Zehra kidnapping case". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  17. ↑ "Dua Zehra's father withdraws petition, SC disposes case". The Express Tribune. 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  18. ↑ Ahmed, Shamil (2022-06-28). "Ten experts part of medical board that will determine Dua Zehra's age". Aaj English TV. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  19. ↑ Sheikh, Kamran (2022-07-04). "Dua Zehra is 15, says medical board in new twist". Aaj English TV. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  20. ↑ "Medical board report reveals age of Dua Zehra between 15-16 years". Daily Times. 2022-07-04. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  21. ↑ Siraj, Sarah (2022-07-19). "Dua Zehra shifted to Darul Aman, alleges parents hurling threats". BOL News. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  22. ↑ Sahoutara, Ishaq Tanoli | Naeem (2022-07-21). "SHC rules Dua Zehra can't be on her own in Lahore, police empowered to move her to Karachi". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  23. ↑ Bilal, Rana (2022-07-24). "Dua Zehra moved back to Karachi from Lahore, placed in child protection centre". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  24. ↑ Sahoutara, Naeem (2022-07-17). "New twist as police confirm Dua's abduction, underage marriage". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  25. ↑ "Dua Zahra case: Court seeks supplementary challan from new investigating officer". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.