The Case of Dua Zehra: Media Sensationalism
Huma Javeed The Case On 16th April 2022, Dua Zehra, a girl from Karachi Pakistan became part of the daily news cycle. Dua Zehra disappeared from Karachi and was found days later in Okara, Punjab, 1,200 km away, announced to be married to a boy named Zaheer Ahmed. Dua’s father reported her as a 14-year-old child abducted from Karachi and who isn’t capable of making appropriate decisions for her own life. On April 26, a video surfaced on various news media outlets where Dua Zehra claimed she was 16-year-old and had willingly married Zaheer, whom she had met online. She explained that she travelled from Karachi to Okara by taxi to be with him and accused her parents of lifelong abuse while stating that Zaheer’s family treated her well. This incident sparked widespread media coverage. Dua Zehra's story became a daily headline, with media outlets extensively analyzing her and her family life. Journalists eagerly conducted exclusive interviews with Dua and her new husband, often portrayi...