Dua, who according to the petition is a minor, was reported as kidnapped from Karachi in April 2022 but later found to have purportedly ‘eloped’ in Punjab. A case filed by his father in the courts culminated in her reunion with her parents earlier this year.

Jibran Nasir, lawyer of Mehdi Ali Kazmi told Aaj News that the suit for the jactitation of marriage was filed on April 17, 2023. The court was initially set to hear the case on April 29th, 2023, but due to a delay from the defendant’s side, the hearing was rescheduled for May 17th, 2023, he added.

Jactitation of marriage is a rare legal action taken when someone makes a false claim of being married to another person.

Kazmi claims that Dua was kidnapped by Ahmed and forced into marriage against her will.

If the court rules in favor of Kazmi and Dua Zehra, Ahmed will be legally required to retract his false claim of marriage.

The upcoming court hearing will determine the fate of the case and decide whether Dua Zehra’s suit for the jactitation of marriage against her husband Zahir Ahmed will be successful or not.

The Dua Zehra case dominated the news cycle for almost a year from the week the Karachi teenager was reported missing in the middle of April to the January 6 decision of the Sindh High Cout which handed over Dua Zehra to her parents.

Dua remained missing for most of April and May last year, but she later resurfaced in Bahwalnagar, Punjab.