Arzoo Masih case: SHC forms medical board to decide age

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the formation of a medical board that will determine the age of Arzoo Masih, the 13-year-old girl kidnapped, forced to convert and marry a 44-year-old man.

Arzoo Masih, Arzoo Raja Masih, Arzoo Raja, Arzoo Masih Case — Arzoo Masih case: SHC forms medical board to decide age.

A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) comprising of Justice KK Agha and Justice Amjad Ali heard petitions regarding the matter on Thursday.

Arzoo Masih and her 44-year-old husband, Syed Ali Azhar, were presented before the court where the young girl repeated her earlier statement claiming to be 18 years old age and requested to stay with her husband.

However, it is pertinent to mention that the documents submitted Arzoo’s parents claim her real age to be 13 years old making the marriage with Ali Azhar illegal since it goes against the against the Sindh’s Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013.

The Sindh advocate general who was also present at the hearing requested the court not to record the girl’s statement but Justice Agha noted that Arzoo Raja Masih had already responded to three questions asked by the judges.

Barrister Salahuddin also appeared before the court on behalf of Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari to oversee the hearing.

“A medical board will be constituted to determine and decide about your age,” the bench concluded and asked for a final report to be presented regarding her age at the next hearing which has been scheduled on 9th November.

Until the next hearing of the case, Arzoo Raja will remain at the shelter home.

About the case

The incident came to light when people took to social media demanding justice for Arzoo Masih, the 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped, forced to convert and marry a man almost thrice her age.

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