Fridae

Married about eight months ago, Shumail Raj, 31, and Shehzina Tariq, 24, are now known throughout Pakistan and the world.

Widely reported by the press as Pakistan's first same-sex marriage despite the couple's assertion that they are not lesbians, the pair was sentenced on May 28 to three years rigorous imprisonment in different jails and a fine of Rs 10,000 (US$200) for entering into a same-sex marriage despite one of the parties being a female to make transsexual.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered a medical examination of Raj when Tariq's parents filed a complaint alleging that Raj was female. A five-member medical board conducted the medical examination and found that Raj was born female but had two operations to remove her breasts and uterus 16 years ago.

According to Pakistan's Daily Times, official sources of the Health Department said that while an initial report was submitted to the court the final report would be made after the two chromosomes tests were conducted, which had been pending in a hospital's laboratory.

Sources said that till then, it would be unjust to tag the couple as transsexual, adding that the board would look into whether this was a natal or an acquired disorder that may have occurred because of issues like parents' negligence or lack of education.

The news report also said that the the board, which believes that the case should be dealt with rationally, is also set to examine the pair focusing on transsexuality, homosexuality and transvestism.

Tariq, talking to the media after court said, "we married because we are in love but we're not homosexuals. Ours was a love marriage."

The case has made waves by raising issues of homosexuality and transsexuality that are rarely discussed in the conservative Muslim country.

Court proceedings will resume on July 6.