A judicial magistrate in Karachi East has declared the nikah of Dua Zehra – who was reported missing from Karachi in April 2022 and resurfaced in Punjab and married to another teenager – and Zaheer to be valid.
The judge rejected a petition that sought to deem their marriage certificate as fraudulent.
In a ruling from the civil court, the request to invalidate the marriage and declare the marriage certificate as fake was dismissed. The court confirmed that the marriage was valid.
The judicial magistrate stated that the marriage was valid and any petition for annulment could be taken to the relevant court.
Last year, a Family Court East in Karachi granted permanent custody of Dua Zahra to her parents, Mehdi Kazmi and his wife. The court ruled on a petition filed by Mehdi Kazmi, who had been seeking custody of his daughter since she was allegedly abducted in April 2022.
The court stated that Dua Zehra will remain in the custody of her parents until she reaches adulthood. The court added that the decision was made with the best interests of the child in mind, considering her well-being and the fact that her biological parents have demonstrated their commitment to her safety.
The court also ordered both parents to submit a personal surety bond of Rs200,000.
In January 2023, the Sindh High Court ruled that the teenage girl would reside with her parents after she expressed her intention to go with her parents.
“This suit coming on this 25th day of February, 2025, for judgment in presence of Plaintiff(s) and respective counsel, wherein the plaintiff has prayed to Declare the impugned Nikkahnama is null void-ab-initio being a result of fear, pressure, duress and coercion on the plaintiff; so also the Nikahnama is forged viz the age of the plaintiff and the date of its execution as well as the consent of the plaintiff; Permanently and during the pendency of this suit restrain the Defendant from making the false claim of being lawfully married to the plaintiff and having entered into a valid contract of marriage with the plaintiff; Restrain the defendant or any other person from making any efforts to get the impugned Nikahnama Registered; Any other relief(s) which this Hon’ble Court may seem fit and proper as per the facts and circumstances of this case.
It is hereby adjudged and decreed that the marriage between the contracting parties so also the Nikkahnama is hereby declared as valid, while, the prayer regarding to restrain the defendant is hereby dismissed. However, the plaintiff has other liberty to approach the concerned court regarding the dissolution of marriage.
Given under my hand and seal of the Court on this 25th day of February, 2025.“
The teenager was reported missing from her home in Karachi in mid-April.
Later, she was traced to Bahawalnagar and the police learned that she was married to 21-year-old Zaheer Ahmed, who she had met while playing the popular online game PUBG.
The couple was produced in the Sindh High Court, where the court ruled that the teenager could stay with whoever she wanted before sending her to a shelter home. After that, the girl’s parents approached the Supreme Court and challenged the decision of the Sindh High Court.
The Supreme Court disposed of the case after instructing the plaintiffs to approach the relevant forum.
You can read details of the developments in the case in our special report here.
