The Sindh High Court on Friday gave interim custody of a teenage Karachi girl who ran way and married a boy in Lahore to her parents, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The court rejected the petition filed by her husband Zaheer Ahmad seeking the court order to let his wife go with him and disposed of the case. 

The court, however, ordered the father of the girl to submit Rs1 million surety bond. It also directed the Child Protection Bureau to send its officer to hold a meeting with the girl at her house every week in the presence of a police inspector. 

The teenage girl’s husband Zaheer Ahmad appeared before the court. 

At the outset of the hearing, Zaheer Ahmad’s lawyer Gul Muhammad Farooqi objected to other party’s contention saying how the girl could be considered under custody at a shelter home when the court had sent her there. He contended that since the girl was the prime witness in the case, how she could be sent to her parents’ house. 

Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro remarked that it’s better to seek the consent of the girl in this matter. 

The judge then asked the girl (whose parents alleged that she was kidnapped by Zaheer Ahmad) to come forward and let the court know with whom she wanted to go.

The girl uttered that she wanted to go with her parents. 

Then the judge inquired of her if she had any reservations. 

When the girl didn’t object, the court allowed her interim custody to her parents but said that the trial court would decide about her permanent custody. 

However, Advocate Farooqi objected and said that the star witness would go to the plaintiff. He requested the court to stop the parents from taking the girl abroad. 

The court asked the parents to give some surety to the court in order to get the custody of the girl. 

The court then asked the father to submit a surety bond of Rs1 million. 

Court releases written order 

The court released a written order of its decision. 

According to the order, the girl was presented before the court on Jan 2. After asking about girl’s identity, the court asked some other important questions from the girl. She told her name correctly and said that she was living in a shelter home. On court’s inquiry, she said she wanted to go with her parents. 

It was further stated in the written order that Zaheer Ahmad’s lawyer raised objection to the maintainability of the petition. But the girl very clearly stated that she wanted to go with her parents. 

The court directed the Child Protection Authority to hand over the girl to her parents temporarily. It said that the girl’s parents have assured the court of her safety and they would submit Rs50,000 surety bond. The decision regarding her permanent custody would be taken by the trial court. 

The court ordered that an officer of Child Protection Bureau would visit the girl’s house and hold a meeting with her. A police inspector should also be accompanying the officer, the order further stated, adding that the Child Protection Officer should submit his report to the trial court. 

If the trial court detects any irregularity, it could take an action. 

Reporter Bilal Ahmad