Dua Zehra, who entered into the marriage of her own free will, is between the ages of 15 and 16, but probably closer to 15, supports her father’s claim that she was underage and was coerced into the union. The special medical board, which consists of 10 members and is presided over by Prof. Saba Sohail, principal of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), met on Saturday at the Sindh Government Services Hospital and on Monday delivered its findings to the judicial magistrate of Karachi’s East District.
Dua Zehra, who entered into the marriage of her own free will, is between the ages of 15 and 16, but probably closer to 15, supports her father’s claim that she was underage and was coerced into the union. The special medical board, which consists of 10 members and is presided over by Prof. Saba Sohail, principal of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), met on Saturday at the Sindh Government Services Hospital and on Monday delivered its findings to the judicial magistrate of Karachi’s East District.
The age of Dua was ascertained through three physical medical examinations: dental, gynaecological, and orthopedic. According to the report, she is between the ages of 14 and 15 according to the physical assessment, but between 13 and 15 according to the dental examination. Dental, gynaecological, and orthopedic physical medical checks were carried out in order to establish Dua’s age. According to the study, her age is between 14 and 15 years old based on a physical examination, however her dental age is between 13 and 15 years old. However, the medical report stated that she is between the ages of 16 and 17 based on the radiological examination’s assessment of epiphyseal closure. This disparity is exceptional, according to the report. “Ms. Dua Zehra D/O Syed Mehdi Kazmi’s age is generally believed to be 15 or 16 with the consensus perception,” Prof. Saba Sohail is among the 10 members who have signed the final report. Other signatories include the head of the radiology department at the Lyari General Hospital, a consultant radiologist at the Services Hospital, the professor of gynaecology at the Civil Hospital, Dr. Ruth KM Pfau, an associate professor of forensic medicine at the Dow International Medical College, the chair of the OMFS programme at the Dow Dental College, the head of the dental department at the Services Hospital, the police surgeon, and the medical director of the specialists at the Services Hospital. Her age being confirmed strengthens the claim made by her father Mehdi Ali Kazmi that she was a minor and that luring her into marriage was equivalent to kidnapping under Pakistani law (PPC).
