Two Muslim women, Rehana Kausar, 34, and Sobia Kamar, 29, took their vows of eternal love for each other at a registry office in Leeds.

As a consequence of their love, they are now seeking political asylum, for Pakistan forbids homosexual relationships, and in their case, abhors same-sex marriage.

The couple said that they met each other three years ago when they were just studying business and health care management at Birmingham. They pursue their relationship as they have access to travel to the country on student visas. The two admitted that they had been living together as couple in South Yorkshire for almost a year.

Ms. Kausar, hailing from Lahore and holds a master's degree in Economics from Punjab University, told Sunday Mercury Newspaper that London, "allows us rights and it's a very personal decision that we have taken. It's no one's business as to what we do with our personal lives."

She also expressed her sentiments about Pakistan, "The problem with Pakistan is that everyone believes he is in charge of other people's lives and can best decide about the morals of others but that's not the right approach. We are in this state because of our clergy, who have hijacked our society, which was once tolerant and respected individual's freedom."

The women's relatives expressed their concern for the lives of the two women as they received death threats, both from Muslims in UK and Pakistan because of their so-called "forbidden love."

According to one relative of the women interviewed by the Sunday Mercury, "The couple did not have an Islamic marriage ceremony, known as nikah, as they could not find an imam to conduct what would have beem a controversial ceremony. They have been very brave throughout as our religion does not condone homosexuality. The couple had their lives threatened both here and in Pakistan and there is no way they could ever return there."

There are other Muslim gay and lesbian couples who had wanted to undergo a nikah but were unsuccessful. Nikah is an Islamic matrimonial ceremony which is often an option exclusive to the heterosexuals. The Islamic meaning of the word nikah, is the physical relationship between man and woman. Hence, nikah, which is done in Arabic verses and prayers, is not recognised in UK if there is no prior civil ceremony.

According to sociologists Stephen O. Murray and Badruddin Khan, there is no civil rights law or legislation in Pakistan that can protect homosexuals from discrimination over their sexuality. Not a single institution or group was established to promote and uphold the rights of homosexuals in the country. This lack of law protecting the homosexuals created a society of intolerance and hostility among people toward the third sex.

Ruth Hunt, deputy chief executive for Stonewall said, "There is a very cautious step towards social visibility for some gay men in Pakistan but lesbians are completely invisible. Pakistan is not necessarily a safe place for couples to be open about their love."

However, officials at the Home Office, chose to be mum in as far as the details of their political asylum request is concerned.