KARACHI: A court on Friday rejected a plea filed by Dua Zehra’s father seeking to replace the investigating officer in the case.

Mehdi Kazmi had filed a petition in Session and District Court through lawyer Jibran Nasir to replace the investigating officer Shaukat Shahani in the alleged kidnapping case of his daughter.

Additional District and Sessions Court (East) announced its verdict and rejected the plea. The court remarked that the judicial magistrate has not taken any decision on the challan submitted by the police. The court said that even if the challan is submitted, the petitioner has the right to appeal.

The court added that matter to determine Dua Zehra’s age is still pending with the medical board. At this stage, there is no reason to change the investigating officer, the court observed.

While dispelling the impression that the investigation officer may not present the teenage girl before the medical board, the court maintained that the official cannot interfere in the proceedings or decision of the medical board.

Therefore, the court ruled that the plea to change the investigating officer at his stage has been dismissed.

Mehdi Kazmi had filed a petition to replace the investigating officer, saying the officer’s behaviour seems biased and the family has no trust over him.

He also expressed concern that the investigation officer will not produce Dua Zehra for the check-up to determine her age.

He had filed a plea on June 17 with Inspector General Sindh and Additional IGP (Investigation) seeking to replace the investigating officer in the case.

Judicial Magistrate East had ordered further investigation of the case and constituted a medical board to determine the actual age of the girl.

Meanwhile, Dua Zehra has reached the Sindh Services Hospital where a 10-member medical board will hold a meeting to determine her age. Police had failed to present her before the board during its earlier meeting and had sought more time to bring her from Lahore.

Sindh Home Department allowed police to bring the girl to Karachi from Lahore. A team of Sindh Police reached Lahore to bring Dua Zehra back to her hometown for the medical test.

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