Pakistani actress Meera accused of 'illegal abortion'

 A Pakistani court has taken up a petition seeking the registration of a case against film star Meera on charges of allegedly having an abortion.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Ayub Khan admitted the petition filed by a man named Muhammad Islam and served a notice to police to investigate the matter.

Islam said in his petition that a recent news report had stated that Meera had recently had an abortion. He contended that since the actress claimed to be a virgin, her act of having an abortion was "illegal and un-Islamic".

He asked the court to direct authorities to register a case against Meera under the controversial Hudood Ordinance, a law enacted in 1979 that lays down strict punishment for offences like extra-marital sex and drinking alcohol.

Judge Khan heard initial arguments by Islam's counsel and directed police to conduct a probe and submit a reply to the court by April 23.

Meera has been in news in the past few weeks for both the alleged abortion, which she has denied, and relations with her fiance, Pakistani American pilot Naveed Shahzad. Businessman Atiqur Rehman, who claims to be Meera's husband, has filed a petition in court over her plans to marry Shahzad.

However, some media reports have said that Shahzad has broken off his engagement with Meera.