ENACTMENT NO. 1 OF 1966 SHAR'IYAH COURTS AND MUSLIM MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ENACTMENT, 1966
PART II - RELIGIOUS COURTS PROCEDURE IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS
Section 48. 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-
(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 31 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 have the last word.
(5) The Court may call any evidence which it considers necessary:
Provided that no party shall be obliged to give evidence against his will.
(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.