KARACHI:
A minor girl arrested by the Malir city police on charges of drug trafficking was registered as an adult woman in the FIR, it was learned after the Sindh High Court granted her bail on a bond of Rs 5,000 on Wednesday.
Saadia is 14 years old and the Sindh High Court wants her parents arrested because her mother, whose name is One Ten, forced her to sell heroin.
One Ten is an old name for repeat offenders you’ll find at police stations, for what they call “rap sheeters” – their sheet is constantly updated as they are required to register at their district police station every day and cannot travel beyond their jurisdiction.
Section 110 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code allows a magistrate to require habitual offenders to provide security for good conduct. If they don’t, they can be detained for up to three years to prevent further mischief.
Police in Malir City arrested Sadia on May 3, 2025 with half a kilo of heroin that she claims her mother Asiya, or One Ten, forced her to sell. It is not very refined heroin, but it comes in the form of brown balls and sells for about 250 rupees per gram on the street.
The case against Sadia was registered at the Malir city police station by sub-inspector Muhammad Younus, who registered her as an adult woman in the FIR.
According to investigating officer Sub-Inspector Sikandar Hayat, police records show that Sadia is 14 years old.
He said police lack the tools necessary to determine his age and instead relied on statements from the suspect and his family.
Hayat said Asiya claimed Sadia was 18 years old and based on the girl’s height and physical appearance, she appeared to be an adult.
Sadia’s father Akhtar Ali, however, claims that Asiya has passed away. But Hayat insists she is alive.
On Thursday, lawyers Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Ghulam Asghar appeared before the SHC as counsel for Saadia. Accepting his post-arrest bail plea, the court ordered Saadia’s release against a bail bond of Rs 5,000, while directing the police to arrest his parents and determine their involvement in the case.
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Justice Umar Sial observed that there was a strong possibility that Sadia’s parents were using their daughter as a drug mule.
Sub-inspector Hayat was ordered to regularly check on Sadia at her house. Judge Sial noted that when children are used in drug trafficking, the police have to investigate their parents or guardians.
If Sadia’s parents are found guilty, the judge added, they will be held criminally responsible and she will be placed in the care of the Child Protection Authority.
The court alerted Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon, the case magistrate and the Child Protection Authority of its decision.
Meanwhile, Hayat said Asiya managed to flee after Saadia’s arrest and has since been separated from her father, Ali.
Officers have received information indicating that he is currently hiding in Nawabshah or Thatta in interior Sindh.
On the orders of SHC, the police have arrested Sadia’s father. Hayat said The express PAkGazette that the detainee, Akhtar Ali, has no criminal record; sells vegetables in a cart. However, some of his male family members are reportedly involved in drug trafficking.
