26 June 2004	Saturday	07 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, June 25: A newly-elected councillor from Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, Sajila Mahar, who is also an advocate, on Friday refused to take an oath, when asked to prove her identity by unveiling her face before the sessions judge.

The councillor, belonging to the Al-Khidmat Group, however, took an oath after fulfilling the required condition by getting certified by her 'Mahram' with regard to her identity.

Earlier, Sajila Mahar refused to take the oath, when district and sessions judge, Karachi, Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani, asked her to unveil her face to prove her identity, contending that for the Muslim women it was against the Islamic injunctions to remove Pardah before a stranger or 'Namehram.'

In support of her stance, she also quoted the Sindh High Court's ruling in a case, which said if a woman could prove her identity in any other way, she could not be asked to show her face. She presented her bar registration card and other documents before the court but was refused.

The court finally observed if any of her "Mehram" could certify her identity, the oath would be administrated. After fulfilling the condition Sajila Mahar took the oath.-PPI