Missing Karachi girl tells court she married by choice

A teenage girl who had been reported missing in Karachi appeared before the Sindh High Court on Tuesday, claiming that she had married of her own free will and alleging that she had suffered abuse at the hands of her father.

A teenage girl who had been reported missing in Karachi appeared before the Sindh High Court on Tuesday, claiming that she had married of her own free will and alleging that she had suffered abuse at the hands of her father. The court directed the investigating officer to formally record her statement while the case continues.

The constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court was hearing a petition seeking the recovery of two sisters who had gone missing after leaving home to sell flowers near Clifton Beach. Police successfully recovered both girls and presented them before the court during the hearing.

According to the investigating officer, the elder girl informed authorities that she had married a man identified as Qurban. However, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the girl is only 14 years old and alleged that she had been abducted. The petition further stated that her six-year-old sister had also disappeared with her on the same day.

During the proceedings, the girls’ father became emotional and told the court that he had been desperately waiting to see his daughters since they went missing. He pleaded for the opportunity to meet them after weeks of uncertainty.

The elder girl however, gave a different account. She told the court that she had decided to marry willingly because her father allegedly subjected her to abuse and harsh treatment. In response to her statement, the court instructed the investigating officer to officially record her testimony as part of the ongoing inquiry.

Outside the courtroom an emotional scene unfolded when the father attempted to embrace his daughters. Both girls declined to meet him, and court staff maintained order while the proceedings concluded.

According to the petition, the sisters belong to a financially struggling family. Their father works as a rickshaw driver, and both girls reportedly sold flowers near Clifton Beach to help support the household. On May 12, they left home for work but failed to return, prompting the family to file a petition for their recovery.

At an earlier hearing, the Sindh High Court had directed law enforcement authorities to locate the girls and present them before the bench. With both children now recovered, the legal proceedings have shifted toward determining the facts surrounding the elder girl’s marriage, her age, and whether any criminal offences were committed.

The case also raises broader concerns about child protection, underage marriages, and the welfare of vulnerable children living in poverty. Pakistani law requires authorities to carefully verify the age of individuals involved in marriage-related disputes, particularly when there are allegations of abduction or coercion.

Investigators are expected to examine documentary evidence, including birth records and marriage documents, while recording statements from all parties involved. The findings will help the court determine the next legal steps.

The Sindh High Court has not reached a final decision, and the matter remains under investigation. Further hearings are expected after the investigating officer submits the recorded statement and additional evidence before the court.