May 26, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 09, 1428

LAHORE, May 25: Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif of the Lahore High Court on Friday gave another chance to the Faisalabad “she couple” to file a reply to the show-cause notice already issued to them.

The judge warned the couple’s counsel that charges would be framed against his clients if he failed to file a reply.

Counsel Rana Sajjad Husain told the court that he could not compile his reply because jail authorities did not allow him to meet his clients.

Punjab additional advocate general Hanif Khatana while assisting the court said since the couple had already confessed to have told a lie to the court it was enough to initiate proceedings against them on charges of perjury. However, the judge said the couple could be given another opportunity for the sake of justice.

The court also directed superintendents of the Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore, and the district jail, Faisalabad, to give an access to the couple’s counsel.

Dr Abdul Hafeez Kardar, who had reportedly performed the surgeries on the `husband’, told the court that uterus of the `she husband’ was removed by a gynecologist and he just assisted in the operation. He said that breasts were removed in another hospital.

The court directed the surgeon to submit his written reply on the next hearing.

Later talking to reporters, the surgeon said that Shumail was still able to conceive a child.

On a query, Shumail told the court that Dr Muhammad Asif had removed her breasts some seven or eights years ago at a clinic in Ghulam Mohammadabad, Faisalabad. Upon this, the judge directed police official Khalid Mahmood to ensure the presence of Dr Asif in the court on the next hearing.

While Shahzina refused to record her statement without the consultation of her lawyer.