'Free to go anywhere she wants,' Lahore court rules in Karachi teen marriage case

The photograph taken from the video shows Dua Zehra speaking. (Photo courtesy: Screengrab from the video posted on social media)
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Updated 26 April 2022
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'Free to go anywhere she wants,' Lahore court rules in Karachi teen marriage case

  • Dua Zehra, who disappeared from her home in Karachi, was recovered by Lahore police Tuesday 
  • Parents of the girl say she is not an adult and should be handed over to child protection bureau

KARACHI: A court in Lahore on Tuesday ruled that Dua Zehra, a teenaged girl who was found in Punjab nine days after her disappearance from her home in Karachi, was "free to go anywhere she wants" after she told the judge she was an adult and had married a boy of her own free will. 

Zehra had gone missing from Karachi’s Al-Falah area on April 16, after she went out of her house to throw thrash. Her father said they live on the first floor of the building and his daughter had gone down to the ground floor to dump trash, but didn’t return. 

A video of the girl surfaced online on Tuesday in which she claimed she had tied the knot with a boy, Zaheer Ahmed, of her own free will and she should be allowed to live freely. 

The Lahore police confirmed her recovery in a Twitter post, saying the teenager and her husband were currently at the District Police Office (DPO) in Okara. She was then taken to Lahore and presented before a judicial magistrate, who turned down the police request to shift Zehra to Darul Aman (shelter home). 

Before the judgment, the judge sent the husband of the girl outside the courtroom to record her statement.  

Zehra told the judge that she was 18 years of age, came from Karachi to Lahore willingly, and she did not want to go to Darul Aman. "I am safe, my life is not in danger," she added. 

After listening to the girl, the judge ruled that she is "free to go anywhere she wants." 

The teenager said her father, Mehdi Kazmi, wanted her to marry her cousin and would beat her to force her for the marriage. She said she was living happily with her husband, Ahmed. 

Zehra recorded the statement under duress, Kazmi said at a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday. 

"She said I would torture her which is totally wrong. My daughter was first kidnapped and now being forced to give a statement in their favour," the father told reporters, appealing to Sindh chief minister to help bring his daughter back. 

"My daughter is underage and not an adult. She should be brought back and kept with the child protection department," he said, adding he wanted fair trial in the case. 

Zehra's mother said Ahmed befriended her daughter while gaming online and misguided the girl to “kidnap” her. 

Last week, an official overseeing the technical side of the case told Arab News Karachi police investigators believed the girl had not been kidnapped, but instead someone “trapped” her through an online gaming platform that served as the source of contact with her. 

Zehra is not the only teenager who went missing in Karachi, but two more teenaged girls disappeared from the port city in recent days. All three have now appeared in different cities of Punjab. 

Nikahnamas (marriage certificates) of two of the girls, Zehra and Nimra Kazmi, have surfaced as well, while the family of the third girl has not yet formally lodged a complaint with the police. 

Speaking to Arab News on Tuesday, Ghulam Nabi Memon, the additional inspector-general of police in Karachi, said the law enforcers were in touch with their counterparts in Lahore regarding the recovery of the girls. 

"It appears that these girls had left their homes of their own will," Memon said. 

Nuzhat Shirin, chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, on Monday said provincial authorities had received nikahnamas of both Zehra and Nimra. 

“The family of Dua has shown us her Form-B, according to which she is 14, whereas the nikahnama shows her 18-year-old,” Shirin told Arab News. 

She said once the girl returned to Karachi, she would be kept with the child protection department, and that her marriage doesn’t stand as the law in Sindh requires a girl to be 18 to be married. 

In Punjab, the law allows a 16-year-old to legally tie the knot. 


US lawmaker warns of shrinking freedoms in Pakistan, cites Imran Khan’s continued incarceration

Updated 8 sec ago
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US lawmaker warns of shrinking freedoms in Pakistan, cites Imran Khan’s continued incarceration

  • Congressman Chris Smith says life in Pakistan ‘is marked by rampant government violations of basic freedoms’
  • Zulfi Bukhari says in his testimony Khan and his wife are kept in ‘solitary confinement’ and ‘inhumane conditions’

ISLAMABAD: A senior US lawmaker on Tuesday voiced concern over the human rights situation in Pakistan, saying basic freedoms were in jeopardy under the current administration and expressing alarm over the continued incarceration of former prime minister Imran Khan in a high-security prison in Rawalpindi.

The remarks by Rep. Chris Smith, Co-Chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, during a congressional hearing in Washington on “political repression” in Pakistan. The bipartisan commission was established in 2008 by the US House of Representatives to promote and advocate for international human rights through hearings, investigations and policy recommendations.

Its latest hearing focused on Pakistan and featured testimony from several witnesses, including Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to ex-premier Khan and a senior figure in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

“Life in Pakistan today is marked by rampant government violations of basic freedoms, particularly freedom of speech and media freedom, and the denial of free and fair elections,” Smith said in his opening remarks.

“Pakistan is a country of over 250 million people — the fifth-largest country in the world — so the human cost of this repression is immense in its scope as well its severity,” he added.

Smith maintained Pakistan’s democratic crisis was not new, though he asserted the government’s human rights record had “taken a sharp turn for the worse” in recent years.

The American lawmaker pointed to the confrontation between the South Asian country’s powerful military establishment and Khan’s PTI, calling the former prime minister a “genuinely popular leader” who had challenged public corruption and military interference before being ousted in what Smith described as a “political coup” in 2022.

Smith noted that last year’s general elections were “widely seen as unfree and unfair, including by the US government, marked as they were by a ban on the PTI party, harassment of PTI officials, bans on public gatherings, a national Internet shutdown, and massive voting irregularities.”

In his testimony, Bukhari said that “Imran Khan and his wife are in solitary confinement for over 23 hours a day,” describing their conditions as “inhumane.”

He also questioned the legality of the February 2024 elections, which PTI has repeatedly alleged were rigged, and criticized the military trials of civilians that he said led to the conviction of dozens of party members and supporters.

“This is a purge,” he said. “It’s not justice.”

Toward the end of Bukhari’s statement, Smith urged the US administration to sit up and take notice of the situation in Pakistan.

He also urged the Trump administration to “redouble its commitment to democracy and human rights” in the South Asian country.


FBI adds Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan to most-wanted list over 2007 agent abduction

Updated 50 min 43 sec ago
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FBI adds Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan to most-wanted list over 2007 agent abduction

  • Special Agent Robert Levinson disappeared from Iran’s Kish Island, with US blaming three Iranian officials
  • FBI says Tehran tried to shift blame on a militant group operating in Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan region

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday added Iran’s current ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, to its list of most wanted individuals, accusing him and two other Iranian officials of involvement in the 2007 abduction of a retired special agent from Iran’s Kish Island.

The FBI said the release of “Seeking Information” posters featuring the three senior Iranian officials was part of its ongoing investigation into Robert A. “Bob” Levinson’s disappearance and Iran’s alleged efforts to conceal its responsibility.

The other two named individuals are Taghi Daneshvar, identified as a counterespionage officer in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, a senior MOIS deputy who served as Iran’s ambassador to Albania before being expelled in 2018.

“These three intelligence officers were among those who allegedly facilitated Bob’s 2007 abduction and the subsequent cover-up by the Iranian government,” Steven Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said in the statement. “Bob likely later perished in captivity far away from his family, friends, and colleagues.”

“The FBI will continue its relentless pursuit to hold anyone involved in his abduction to account for their reprehensible actions,” he added.

According to the FBI, Moghadam, also known as Ahmad Amirinia, led MOIS’s operations unit at the time of Levinson’s abduction. The agency said European-based MOIS agents reported to him in Tehran.

The statement said authorities in Tehran attempted to shift blame for the FBI agent’s abduction onto a militant group operating in Pakistan’s Balochistan region.

The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to Levinson’s location, recovery and return.

In addition, the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $20 million for relevant information in the case.


Pakistan hikes petrol price by Rs5.36, diesel by Rs11.37 per liter

Updated 16 July 2025
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Pakistan hikes petrol price by Rs5.36, diesel by Rs11.37 per liter

  • Petrol now costs Rs272.15 per liter while HSD has risen to Rs284.35
  • The OGRA-recommended prices will remain valid till the end of July

KARACHI: Pakistan’s government has increased the price of petrol by Rs5.36 per liter and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs11.37 per liter for the next fortnight, the Finance Division announced late Tuesday.

The revised prices took effect from today, July 16.

According to the official notification, petrol now costs Rs272.15 per liter, up from Rs266.79, while HSD has risen to Rs284.35 per liter from the previous Rs272.98.

“The Government has revised the prices of petroleum products for the fortnight starting tomorrow, based on the recommendation of OGRA [Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority] and the relevant Ministries,” the Finance Division said in its statement.

Fuel prices in Pakistan are adjusted every two weeks and are influenced by global oil market trends, currency fluctuations and changes in domestic taxation.

The increases have a direct impact on inflation, raising production and transportation costs and driving up the prices of essential goods and services, particularly food. The effect is further amplified by Pakistan’s reliance on imported fuel.

This marks the third consecutive increase in fuel prices. On June 16, the government raised petrol by Rs4.80 per liter and HSD by Rs7.95. Another hike followed on July 1, with petrol up by Rs8.36 and HSD by Rs10.39.

Fuel price volatility escalated last month during the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, when Pakistan instructed oil marketing companies to maintain mandatory reserve levels.

While the government ruled out supply shortages, the conflict triggered concerns about a potential disruption in oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.


Senior Pakistan general pledges deeper strategic ties with China at PLA anniversary

Updated 16 July 2025
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Senior Pakistan general pledges deeper strategic ties with China at PLA anniversary

  • General Sahir Shamshad Mirza commends Beijing for turning China into a ‘pillar of peace and stability’
  • He reiterates ‘unwavering commitment’ to ensuring security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan

KARACHI: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening ties with China, while addressing a ceremony marking the 98th founding day of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to an official statement.

Islamabad and Beijing are long-time allies and have jointly pursued multibillion-dollar infrastructure, energy and regional connectivity projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship initiative of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The corridor provides Beijing with direct access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan’s Gwadar port, while enabling Islamabad to modernize infrastructure and boost regional trade.

The two countries also maintain close cooperation in defense and security. Earlier this month, India’s Deputy Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, claimed China had provided Pakistan with “live inputs” during a four-day military conflict with India in May. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in an exclusive interview with Arab News last month, described the outcome as a “victory” that was entirely “Made in Pakistan.”

“In his address, the CJCSC highlighted the enduring and time-tested ‘Iron-clad brotherhood’ between Pakistan and China, with shared resolve to broaden and deepen this unique relationship across all domains,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.

“He commended PLA’s pivotal role under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Xi Jinping for China’s remarkable development and rapid modernization, which has transformed People’s Republic of China into a key pillar of peace, stability and prosperity,” the statement added. “CJCSC highlighted China as a stabilizing factor in the regional security dynamics.”

The event, held in Rawalpindi, was attended by a wide cross-section of civilian and military officials, diplomats, media representatives and business leaders.

General Mirza also reiterated Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment” to ensuring the security of Chinese nationals working in the country.

Thousands of Chinese citizens are employed across dozens of CPEC-linked projects, many of which are located in volatile regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where separatist and militant groups have repeatedly targeted foreign workers.

Chinese nationals have also come under attack in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and commercial capital, prompting authorities to implement tighter security protocols.


Former Pakistan PM’s ex-wife Reham Khan launches Pakistan Republic Party

Updated 16 July 2025
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Former Pakistan PM’s ex-wife Reham Khan launches Pakistan Republic Party

  • Reham describes move as ‘national mission’ to restore hope and dignity for Pakistanis
  • She came into the spotlight after marrying former prime minister Imran Khan in 2015

ISLAMABAD: Reham Khan, ex-wife of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, on Tuesday announced the launch of a new political party — the Pakistan Republic Party — aimed at representing women, farmers and other marginalized groups.

A journalist by profession, Reham first entered the political spotlight in January 2015 after marrying the cricketer-turned-politician, who was then chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

She was allegedly involved in behind-the-scenes politics that sparked controversy within PTI, with some senior party members uncomfortable with her presence and eventually sidelining her from party affairs.

The couple divorced less than a year later, with Reham later claiming that political pressure contributed to the split.

“Today, I am sharing the name [of my party] with you, InshAllah, Pakistan Republic Party, which would speak of a republic, where there will be no room for mob behavior, where horizontal leadership will be spoken about, and where those with working experience, what we call ‘lived experience’ in English, will be given representation,” she said at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.

She pledged to push for legal reforms that improve the lives of ordinary citizens — especially women and farmers — and called for policies that reflect the public’s real struggles.

Reham described the initiative as a national mission rather than just a political movement, focused on restoring hope, dignity and meaningful representation.

“This is a party for the public,” she later said in a post on X. “I will involve you, the public, in the manifesto, the direction, the operating structure.”

“Already been connected to amazing people that you & I have never heard of, but they have been doing great work in their hometowns,” she continued. “These fresh faces will decide how to proceed.”

The announcement comes as PTI begins a 90-day “do or die” protest movement calling for Imran Khan’s release. The former premier remains in jail on multiple charges he says are politically motivated.

Earlier this month, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr., grandson of the late former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, also announced plans to form a political party focused on farmers’ rights.