LAHORE, Nov 21: Justice Mohammad Bilal Khan of the Lahore High on Tuesday issued a notice to the Punjab government seeking explanation that if a case under the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979, could be registered on the offence allegedly committed by Christians.

The court also admitted for regular hearing the writ petition through which Tehmina Asad, 21, a student of MBA, sought the quashment of the case registered against her and her husband Augustine Feroze on the allegation that they had committed adultery and be punished under the Islamic law.

The petitioner submitted that the Hudood law provided that its jurisdiction could not be extended to non-Muslims. She also submitted that she and her husband had not committed adultery as they married on their own free will.

The case was registered by Zubaida Begum, the mother of Tehmina, with Sargodha cantonment police, alleging that her daughter was missing since Nov 26, 2005. She alleged that Augustine had abducted her daughter and subjected her to rape. The police registered the case under sections 10(2) and 10(3) of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979.

The complainant and the petitioner were allowed by the court to have a meeting. Later, Zubaida stated that she had forgiven her daughter and did no longer want to pursue the case.

The only objection the mother raised was that 41-year Augustine was already married and the Christian faith did not allow second marraige to a man already having a wife.

Augustine submitted that his first marriage stood dissolved as he had divorced his wife.