LAHORE: Rejecting a plea of police to send Dua Zehra to Darul Aman (women shelter home), a Model Town court on Tuesday allowed the girl to go with her husband.

The court announced its verdict after Dua Zehra recorded her statement before Judicial Magistrate Tasawwur Iqbal. Court had sent Dua’s husband Zaheer Ahmed out of the court room before recording her statement.

Dua Zehra said she came to Lahore from Karachi out of her own free will and nobody abducted her.

She said she was an 18 years old, wise and mature girl. She solemnised nikah out of her free will and she was happy with her husband, she said.

“I feel myself protected with my husband,” she said.

Read more: Dua Zehra says father tried to abduct her from Lahore on April 18

She said her father, Mehdi Kazmi, forcibly wanted her to marry her cousin Zain ul Abideen, while she was happily married to Zaheer Ahmed.

“My father and cousin even tried to abduct me from my home, however their attempt failed upon gathering of residents of the area,” she said adding that they abused and threatened her and her husband.

Dua Zehra pleaded the court to take action against Mehdi Kazmi and Zain under the CrPC.

The magistrate court has summoned Dua Zehra on May 18 to present evidence against her father. The court also directed the SHO of Wahdat Colony police station to stop illegal harassment of Dua Zehra.

The girl, allegedly 14-year-old, went missing on April 16 and the police started the hunt when a video request by her parents popped up on social media.

Initially, the case appeared to be of abduction and as the parents claimed their daughter went missing from the home.

However, what we can call as the biggest breakthrough in the case, it appeared that the girl left her home willingly to tie the knot with Zaheer Ahmed in Lahore.

While in police custody, Dua Zhera again admitted that she married with Zaheer Ahmed out of her own free will.

Read more: Father of Dua Zehra denies allegations of domestic violence

“I came here myself and nobody kidnapped me. I want to live with Zaheer Ahmed and don’t want to return home. I did not bring any valuable item from home,” she said.