The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday ordered to temporarily hand over the custody of the 14-year-old girl — who was reported missing from Karachi on April 16, 2022, but was recovered from Punjab later and declared that she had run away from her home to marry 21-year-old Zaheer Ahmed — to her parents.
According to reports, Justice Iqbal Kalhoro of the SHC heard the case today during which the minor girl was also presented before the court.
During the hearing, Justice Kalhoro asked the girl whether she wants to live at the shelter home or with her parents. At this, the 14-year-old said that she wants to live with her parents.
The court then asked the parents — Mehdi Kazmi and Saima Kazmi — to submit a bond of Rs1 million. However, the permanent custody of the girl will be decided by the trial court.
The court also said that a child protection officer along with female police will visit the girl every week. It also said that the child protection officer will submit a report to the court after meeting with the teenager.
Justice Kalhoro also ordered that the girl will not be allowed to leave Pakistan until the case is decided.
Meanwhile, Zaheer's lawyer argued that the petition is inadmissible. "The girl was kept in a shelter home on court orders. It is not a case of habeas corpus," added the lawyer.
He also said that Zaheer should be allowed to meet with the girl.
The girl's lawyer, Jibran Nasir, welcomed the decision and said that the child is finally going home after a seven-month-long battle.
