Pakistan court gives bail to same sex couple

Islamabad, June 28 (UNI) The Supreme Court of Pakistan today granted bail to a same sex couple, which was sentenced to three years jail in May.

A two-member bench headed by acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas suspended the judgement of the Lahore High Court and bailed out the couple against surety bonds of Rs 50,000.

''The Court also admitted the petition of Shamile Raj, 31, who underwent sex-change operation to become a man,'' Raj's Counsel Babar Awan told reporters.

He said the court handed down harsh punishment to the couple without framing charges against them.

The couple was sent to separate jails after the high court awarded sentence to them.

According to Raj he had his breasts removed some eight or ten years ago to salvage Shehzina, whose uncle was going to marry her off against her will to pay his outstanding debts. But the high court Judge Khawaja Muhammad Sharif found the couple of committing an ''unnatural act'' and perjury.

UNI