LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday disposed of the petition filed by mother and brother of husband of Dua Zahra, a girl from Karachi who had contracted marriage in Punjab against her parents’ will, against police harassment after the girl appeared in the court.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the petition filed by Noor Muneer and Bashir Ahmad. SSP Investigation Imran Kishwar, on the occasion, presented in the court a report on the recovery of the girl. Following the hearing, police shifted Dua back to the shelter home.
Dua’s in-laws had stated in their petition that the girl had travelled all the way from Karachi to Punjab to marry Zaheer Ahmad of her free will. It was further stated that following the marriage, Dua had got her statement recorded in the court under section 164.
Counsel for the petitioners told the court that in her statement, the girl had clearly stated that she had married Zaheer because she loved him. “But the irony is that after their ‘Nikah’, both the Punjab and Sindh police not only started harassing the couple but also my clients,” he said, and added, “Therefore, it is prayed to the court to order police to stop harassing the newly-weds as well as their relatives.”
A day before yesterday (Wednesday, June 8, 2022), the Sindh High Court, in its written verdict, had allowed Dua to make a decision as per her free will and she can live with whom she chooses.
In its three-page written order, Justice Junaid Ghaffar said the court had reached the verdict in line with the testimonies. “In light of all the evidence, this is not a case of kidnapping. The alleged/minor Dua E Zahra Kazmi, pursuant to her statement on Oath and Age Certificate is set at liberty to decide as to whom she intends to reside and go along,” the order read.