Mehdi Kazmi, father of Karachi girl Dua Zahra, who had gone to Punjab to marry the boy named Zaheer, on Saturday moved the Supreme Court’s (SC) Karachi Registry against the Sindh High Court (SHC) verdict in his daughter’s alleged kidnapping case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Also requesting the court for immediate hearing of his petition, Mehdi also pointed out what he called flaws in the SHC’s decision. 

The petitioner said that it was given on the basis of Dua’s statement as well as her medical report. “While the medical report says that she is 17 years old, NADRA’s record and her educational certificates, on the contrary, state her to be 14 years old.”

The apex court is likely to start hearing of the case next week.     

The Sindh High Court had, on June 8, 2022, disposed of the case of Dua Zahra's parents, ordering the authorities to produce the girl before the Lahore High Court (LHC) which was also hearing a case filed by the girl's in-laws. 

In its written verdict, the Sindh High Court allowed Dua to make a decision as per her free will, adding she can live with whom she chooses.

However, the court after observing progress in case against Dua's husband directed the police to submit a challan against Zaheer in the court.

In its three-page order, Justice Junaid Ghaffar said the court had reached the verdict in line with the testimonies. "In the light of all the evidence, this is not a case of kidnapping. The alleged/minor Dua  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.

In the order, the court also said that it has decided to dispose of Zehra's father's — Mehdi Ali Kazmi — petition for her recovery as the case of his daughter was not of kidnapping.

Earlier, reserving its verdict in Dua Zahra case, the SHC refused to order the handover of Karachi girl, who had contracted marriage in Punjab of her free will, to her parents.