Would-be ‘gay couple’ remanded in police custody

PESHAWAR: A local court remanded a would-be “gay couple” into police custody on Tuesday.

The court also sent 43 other people, among them 16 eunuchs, on judicial remand to the central prison Peshawar. They were picked up from a “gay marriage ceremony”, according to police. The Faqirabad police produced 50-year old Malik Iqbal and his 19-year old would-be partner Kashif, alias Rani, in the court of Judicial Magistrate Syed Shaukatullah Jan.

Iqbal was accused of contracting ‘marriage’ with Kashif, 19, late on Monday. The police sought one day physical remand of the accused, which was granted by the court. Judge Shaukatullah directed police to present the accused along with a detailed investigation report on Wednesday. The counsel for Malik told the court that his client wasn’t contracting a marriage with Kashif and that he was picked up from a dance function where eunuchs were performing. According to the FIR, the Faqirabad police were tipped off about the “marriage ceremony” of Iqbal and Kashif, in the Malik Plaza neighbourhood of the city. Police raided the area and arrested the accused and 43 “wedding guests” from the party.

Kashif is a resident of the Shabqadar area of Charsadda district. Police also claim to have recovered two photos of the “gay couple”, a pair of ankle bells, a bridal dress and a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The FIR was registered under sections 377, 511, 294, 148 and 149 PPC, 3/4 Dance Act and 13 AO.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 26th, 2010.