ENACTMENT NO. 5 OF 1956 ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW OF THE RELIGION OF ISLAM ENACTMENT 1956
PART III - RELIGIOUS COURTS JURISDICTION
Section 76. Trial or hearing.
(1) If at the time appointed for the hearing the plaintiff does not appear the proceedings may be struck out: if the plaintiff appears, but the defendant does not appear, the plaintiff may prove his case and the Court may give judgment:
Provided that- .
(a) in any such case the Court may in its discretion order an adjournment; and .
(b) the Court may deal with .a counterclaim although the claim is struck out.
(2) If the defendant appears and admits the plaintiff's claim the Court may give judgment without hearing evidence.
(3) If the defendant desires to defend, the party against whom judgment would be given on the pleadings and admissions made, if no evidence were taken, shall have the right to begin.
(4) Each party may address the Court and may then give evidence and call his witnesses, who shall be examined and, may be cross-examined, re-examined, questioned by the Court and recalled in like manner as provided in section 59 of this Enactment for criminal proceedings. After the conclusion of the evidence each party may sum up his case, but so that the party who began shall address the Court last.
(5) The Court may call any evidence which it considers necessary.
(6) Thereafter the Court shall give judgment in open Court, either at once or at a later time of which notice shall be given to the parties .