KARACHI: Teenager Dua Zahra underwent various tests on Saturday as authorities try to determine her age in line with court orders,
The Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) had taken Dua Zahra — who had gone missing from her Karachi residence in April but was later found to have married Zaheer Ahmed in Lahore — into its custody from Lahore and brought her to Karachi earlier today for an ossification test.
The test to determine her age is being conducted once again after her father challenged an earlier test that revealed that the girl’s age was between 16 and 17.
According to the sources, X-rays and other tests were performed at the Services Hospital, while dental exams were performed at another hospital. Following that, the police returned her to Services Hospital.
The medical board, which was formed last week to determine her age, has summoned her father, according to sources. They stated that her test results would be available in four days.
The Additional District and Sessions Judge East denied Zahra’s father’s request to change the investigation officer (IO) looking into her alleged kidnapping earlier today.
The court observed that the judicial magistrate hearing her case had not issued a decision based on the IO’s challan.
The petitioner has the right to appeal even if the challan is accepted, according to the court.
It was also noted that the issue of determining her age is still pending with the medical board.
Zahra’s father had filed a plea in the district and sessions court last week through his lawyer, requesting that the IO be replaced. He claimed that the officer was conducting the investigation in a “biassed manner.”
