Mst. ZOOBIA NAZ vs PROVINCE OF SINDH, through Chief Secretary Ss — 2025 CLC 272 KARACHI-HIGH-COURT-SINDH

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Mst. ZOOBIA NAZ VS PROVINCE OF SINDH, through Chief Secretary Ss.7 & 25---Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898), S.491---Constitution of Pakistan, Art. 199(1)(b)(i)---Habeas corpus, writ of---Scope---Recovery of minor from the custody of father given to him by the petitioner/mother herself voluntarily---Petitioner instead of availing alternate remedy by seeking custody of the minor from the Guardian Court opted to approach High Court in the writ of habeas corpus---Validity---Section 491, Cr.P.C., could not be used to declare someone as the guardian of a minor or to resolve custody disputes, rather these matters should be addressed in separate proceedings before the Guardians and Wards Court---Paramount consideration in determining custody of a minor was the minor's welfare, considering his/her age, sex, religion, and moral, spiritual, and material well-being---Court should assess the age, sex and religion of the minor, the character and capacity of the proposed guardian, their kinship to the minor and the minor's preference if he/she is capable of making it---Application for invocation and passing of a writ of habeas corpus may be filed by any person seeking a direction from High Court that "a person in custody within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court be brought before it so that the Court may satisfy itself that he is not being held in custody without lawful authority or in an unlawful manner", however, such invocation and passing of the writ is subject to the satisfaction of the High Court and that no adequate remedy is provided by the law---Only in exceptional and extraordinary circumstances, where all other methods and measures fail and an element of criminality, forced removal, kidnapping. and/or abduction of the child is involved, writ of habeas corpus can be issued, thus, issuance of a writ of habeas corpus in a custody matter should be an exception, and not the rule, as the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, provides the Guardian Court with all requisite powers to pass and enforce its orders in such matters---Purpose of filing the present petition was served as the minor had been produced before the Court and was no more in illegal detention and the parties had to seek permanent custody of minor from the Guardians and Wards Court---Constitutional petition was disposed of, in circumstances.

Mst. ZOOBIA NAZ vs PROVINCE OF SINDH, through Chief Secretary Ss — 2025 CLC 272 KARACHI-HIGH-COURT-SINDH

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