KARACHI: The two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) headed by Justice Junaid Ghaffar and Comprising Justice Amjad Ali Sahito on Monday ordered the authorities to conduct a test on Dua Zahra Kazmi— the girl who had mysteriously gone missing from Karachi in April but later declared that she had run away from her home to marry 21-year-old Zaheer Ahmed — to determine her actual age, and present her again tomorrow (Wednesday).

An ossification test is typically used as an age determination test of a person on the basis of their bone framework.

Dua Zahra and Zaheer were presented before the SHC amid strict security after being shifted to Karachi on Monday morning following their recovery by the Punjab police from the Chishtian area of Bahawalnagar district in the wee hours of Sunday. Dua was handed over to lady police officials after being shifted to Karachi.

During the hearing, Justice Junaid Ghaffar asked why the girl has been presented before the court today when the hearing of the case is fixed for June 10.

At this, Sindh Advocate General Salman Talibuddin said that the court had directed the police to present Dua as soon as she is recovered. He informed the court that the couple has to be presented in Lahore High Court on June 10.

While recording her statement in court, Dua Zahra said she is 18 years old and she wants to go with her husband. “My name is Dua Zahra and father’s name is Mehdi Kazmi. My age is 18 years and I live with Zaheer,” she said. When asked about the house number of where she lives, Dua said that she doesn’t know this detail.

When the court told her about her father’s allegation that she had been kidnapped, Dua responded that she hadn’t been kidnapped.

Earlier, the court inquired from the Sindh Advocate General what the case under trial in Punjab’s court is about. At this, the Sindh AG said that Zaheer’s parents had lodged a complaint against harassment.

“The girl had left out of her free will. No offence has been committed in this province […]. Marriage had been solemnised there [in Punjab],” he said.

Justice Junaid Ghaffar remarked that under the given circumstances, the petition for the girl’s recovery has become invalid.

The counsel representing Dua’s father informed the court that Dua’s date of birth according to her birth certificate is April 27, 2008, which means her age is 14 years and some days. He said that it is a case of kidnapping.

“The girl will give a statement and the kidnap case will become invalid,” Justice Junaid Ghaffar remarked.

The court asked Dua if she wants to meet her parents, but she refused.

At the counsel’s request to allow Dua’s parents to meet her, Justice Junaid Ghaffar said that the court cannot force her to meet her parents against her will.

“The girl is standing in front of us and is saying that no one abducted her,” he added, and subsequently ordered that Dua be sent to a shelter home and a medical test be carried out to determine her age.

Meanwhile, at one point during the proceedings, Dua’s parents requested the court to grant them permission to meet her for 10 minutes. However, the teenager refused.

“What can we do when she, herself, has refused,” Justice Ghaffar said. “[Her] parents are standing here … they are worried … but we have to consider the law.”

During the hearing the Advocate General Sindh requested the court issue orders regarding Zaheer. Upon this the court said that no case is pending against Zahreer Ahmed in this court so it is up to the Sindh police in which court it wants to present him or where to keep him.