Family Court East in Karachi has granted permanent custody of Dua Zehra 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. They are further obligated to ensure Dua Zehra’s basic needs, including education and nourishment. The court emphasized that Dua Zehra must be presented in court whenever summoned, as she had expressed her willingness to live with her parents.

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The court’s decision was based on the evidence presented, which indicated that Zaheer Ahmed, who had claimed to have married Dua Zehra, failed to prove good treatment of the child. The court found that Dua Zehra’s parents had made every effort to ensure her safety.

It is noteworthy that the Sindh High Court had previously granted temporary custody of Dua Zahra to her parents.

Mehdi Kazmi had alleged that his daughter was abducted from outside their home on April 16, 2022, when she was 13 years old.

He claimed that he learned through news reports that Zaheer Ahmed had allegedly married Dua Zehra, falsely claiming she was 18 years old.