SHC orders Dua Zehra’s ossification test to ascertain age 

Karachi: The Sindh High Court (SHC) Monday ordered that Dua Zehra, the teenage girl who went missing from Karachi, be sent to a shelter home and directed the authorities to conduct her bone ossification test (an age determination test on the basis of assessment of a person’s bony frame work). 

According to details, Dua Zahra appeared before the SHC today amid strict security after being shifted to Karachi this morning following their recovery.

When the teenager entered the courtroom, her mother tried to embrace her but was stopped by the court police, who said that they didn't have permission to meet the girl.

Increasing levels of empathy and altruism, very emotional scenes were witnessed in the courtyard when Dua’s mother kept on calling her daughter’s name. 

At one point during the proceedings, Dua's parents requested the court to grant them permission to meet her for 10 minutes. However, the girl refused.

The juvenile recorded her statement saying she was not abducted and tied the knot with her alleged husband—Zaheer Ahmad— of her free will. She stated that she was an adult, claiming to be 18 years. 

Zehra requested the court that she wanted to go with her husband Zaheer.

However, the counsel for the petitioner urged the court to conduct a medical examination of the child to ascertain her actual age. 

The hearing has been adjourned till June 8 (Wednesday). 

Dua Zehra went missing in April and after being recovered from Lahore, her three videos surfaced in which the girl can be heard saying that she married out of her own free will.

On April 16, the girl’s parents lodged a case in Karachi, alleging that their daughter was kidnapped and forced into child marriage.

Yesterday, Dua and Ahmad were recovered from Chishtian and brought to Karachi. The girl was, then, handed over to lady police officials.