During the hearing of the petition today, Justice Alia Neelam observed that the first information report in the case was registered on April 16 but the bail application was filed only now. “How did you know the police wanted to arrest him?” the judge asked the petitioner's counsel.
The counsel told the court that the investigating officer of the case has stated that the matter would be re-opened. “It is feared that the police will make an arrest. The court should grant security bail so that interim bail can be obtained from the concerned court,” the counsel added.
Later, the court granted protective bail to Zaheer till July 14, restraining the police from his arrest till then.
Earlier, a medical board had concluded that Dua is between 15-16 years old. Her father, Syed Mehdi Ali Kazmi had filed a new petition in the Sindh High Court, seeking his daughter's recovery from what he says are ‘kidnappers’ who illegally lured the child into marriage.
Zaheer had abducted Dua and at that time the girl’s age was 13 years, 11 months and 19 days, the petition stated, adding that Zaheer had taken the abductee to Punjab and married her despite her being a child.