The Sindh High Court on 31-July-2025 directed the medical superintendent of Services Hospital to conduct an ossification test on a girl to determine her age in a free-will marriage case as the family of the girl claims she is a minor.
The direction came on a petition of Shireen and Mohammad Sajid, who sought protection against harassment and declaration to allow them to live as husband and wife. The petitioners submitted that they have contracted a free-will marriage, was opposed by the family of Shireen in the Korangi area. The petitioners’ counsel said Shireen was Christian and converted to Islam and thereafter she married Sajid out of her own free will.
Shireen’s mother disputed the marriage and said her daughter is a minor, who was born on September 26, 2011, and under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act she cannot contract marriage until she is 18.
A high court single bench headed by Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro, after hearing the arguments of the counsel, observed that Nadra record shows that the age of the girl is 14 years. The court observed that under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act a prohibition has been placed on the marriage prior to attaining the age of 18 years and such an offence has been made punishable under Section 4 of the Act.
The high court further observed that it will not pass any order with regard to the registration of a case until the age of the petitioner Shireen is determined through an ossification test by the competent forum.
It directed the Korangi SHO to produce the girl before MS Services Hospital for conducting her ossification test. The court also ordered that till such time the petitioner be sent to a shelter home.
The SHC directed the MS Service Hospital to place on record het medical certificate of the petitioner determining her age on August 4 without fail, saying that further proceedings will be conducted after the age of the petitioner is finally determined.
It directed the incharge of the shelter home to ensure the safety and security of the petitioner and said no one will be allowed to visit her till further orders.
Published in News Daily on 01-August-2025.
