Dua Zahra's husband Zaheer acquires protective bail to avoid arrest

• Zaheer approaches LHC in preventive measure to avoid arrest.
• Maintains that he fears that he will get arrested over allegations of kidnapping.
• Aims to acquire interim bail from trial court in Sindh as well.

Dua Zahra's husband and prime accused in the high-profile case, Zaheer Ahmed, has acquired protective bail from Lahore High Court to avoid being arrested as the girl's father incessantly pursues the alleged child marriage and kidnapping case in Sindh's courts.

Dua's father Mehdi Kazmi has moved the Sindh High Court to take action against Zaheer over the alleged child marriage and "rape", while his counsel questions the police's inability to arrest Zaheer when the couple was brought to Karachi the first time after recovery.

As a preventive measure, Zaheer approached the LHC through a plea, where he maintained that he has married [nikah] Zahra but he fears that he will get arrested as he is being accused of kidnapping the girl.

During the hearing, Justice Neelum Aliya inquired about the date of the FIR against Zaheer. Responding to the query, the petitioner's counsel informed that the FIR was registered on April 16.

At this, the judge asked what had they been doing till now and what made them realise that the police wants to arrest Zaheer.

Zaheer's counsel said that the investigation officer (IO) had told a local court in Sindh that they are re-investigating a case. He requested the court to accept his plea for protective bail so that the accused can acquire interim bail from the trial court

At this, the LHC granted Zaheer a protective bail, barring the authorities from arresting him.

Court rejects marriage solemniser, witness's bail pleas

Meanwhile, a local court in Sindh rejected the bail pleas of the nikah khuwan [solemniser] Ghulam Mustafa and witness Asghar, in Zahra and Zaheer's marriage in the case pertaining to the teenager's alleged kidnapping.

The counsel representing the petitioners informed the additional district and sessions judge [East] that the petitioners have been remanded in judicial custody. He said that the police has presented the challan for making the case class-C, seeking to "discharge" the petitioners from the case.

At this, the court said the accused cannot be granted bail until the supplementary challan of the case is not submitted.