A district and sessions court in Karachi directed the investigation team to submit the reply in Dua Zehra case till the next hearing.

The court gave the directives while hearing the petition filed by Dua Zehra’s father, Mehdi Kazmi, seeking to replace the investigation officer.

The petition contends that Dua Zehra’s father has no trust in the investigation officer while calling for him to be replaced.

In the previous hearing, the investigating officer had filed a challan before the judicial magistrate, urging the court to quash the FIR in the Dua Zehra case after categorizing the case as “C class”.

A day earlier, a session court in Karachi during the hearing of alleged kidnapping of Dua Zehra, ordered further investigation of the case and the constitution of a medical board to determine the actual age of the girl.

In earlier hearings, including in the higher courts of Sindh and Punjab, Dua Zehra claimed that she is 18 years old. A medical test ordered by the Sindh High Court estimated her age to be between 16 and 17.

Case background

The teenage girl had gone missing from her home in Karachi in April, and was later recovered from Bhawalnagar, married to Zaheer Ahmed whom she met on PUBG.

The couple was presented in the Sindh High Court, which ruled that Dua Zehra was free to live with whoever she wants before sending her to a shelter home.

The father of the teenage girl then approached Supreme Court and challenged the SHC’s verdict in the case.

The apex court wrapped up case after the father withdrew the petition filed in the apex court challenging the Sindh High Court (SHC’s) decision.

The top court, in its verdict, asked Mehdi Kazmi to approach the relevant forum.