Evening star., 1954-05-07
Society News
Pokiston Embassy
Scene Of Wedding
The CoIorfuI MosIem Ceremony Unites
Dr. Shooib, Capt. Sodik in Marriage
Society News
By Doisy CIeIond

oy DolSy
A touch of the Arabian Nights
crept into Washington last eve
ming. It was a startling change
for the town that has become
the battle-ground of the Nc
Carthy-Army feud and the
sounding board of diplomatic
crisis.
The story book event was a
Pakistani wedding when DR..
Ifat Nafis Shoaib, daughter of
the Executive Director of the
World Bank and Mrs. M. Shoaib,
became the bride of Capt. Azhar
H. Sadik. 1t was a Moslem mar
riage with much of the color and
tradition of yeSteryear.
The bride and bridegroom,
neither American citizens, were
actually married on the soil Of
their own country-the Embassy
of Pakistan. Because of this
there were no trips to the mar
riage license bureau and no
coping with the local laws and
officials.
Preparations Elaborate
The actual ceremony took only
a few minutes, but the prepara-
ton and rituals have lasted for
days and will go on through to-
morrow. 1t will show the Amer
ican June brides what an easy
role they have.
The bride had not seen Capt.
Sadik since a year ago last Oc-
tober and did not see him for at
least an hour after they were
man and wife. Representatives
of each of the two parties went
through the marriage rites,
which were performed by the
head of the Islamic Center.
The bridegroom, who travelled
$4,000 miles to claim his pretty
bride, is a member of the Pakis-
tan Army and formerly Aide de
Camp to the Governor General
of Pakistan and to the Shah of
Iran during the Shah's visit to
Pakistan in 1850.
Ambassador Tokes Port
In Pakistan, the bridegroom's
family take quite a part in the
wedding, but since Capt. Sadik
came by himself, the Ambassa-
dor and Nine. Ali did the hon.
ors for the family. The BRIDE
groom has been staying with
them since he arrived on Tues
day.
The wedding took place at
$50 and was followed by an
elaborate Pakistani feast at the
Georgetown residence of the
brides parents. About $50
guests were present including
representatives from the diplo-
matte corps, officials of the
World Bank and the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund, and
members of residential society.
The meeting of the bride and
her new husband didn't take
place until they had reached
the Shoaibs' house. This is
ceremony which is called Arsi-
Mushif and is one of the most
picturesque in the panorama OF
events.
Lovely Gown
The bride was gowned in a
reath-taking creation of pink
and gold which according to
tradition had been brought to
her by Capt. Sadik. The final
touch to her costume was
Sehra of gold lace and flowers
which was placed in her fore
head. The bridegroom wore his
native dress and a generous
amount of flowers completed
his wedding-day attire.
The bride entered the draw
ing room first and was seated
on a Masnad, which is an en-
broidered carpet in the center
of the room. Next, Capt. Sadik
was sent for but found that his
way was barricaded by his
young new sister-in-law. Neg
hat. He had to tip her gen.
erously before he could go to
his bride.
After this he was escorted to
the Masnad and seated facing
the bride, but mirror was
placed between them. Capt.
Sadik was given a copy of the
Koran, the holy book of the Mos
lens. from which he read verse.
He was then asked to look into
the mirror and see the reflection
of his bride.
Ring on Right Hand
After Capt. Sadik had seen his
bride he put a ring on the first
finger of her right hand. touched
her forehead with sandalwood
paste and took some sort of
sweet served in a silver dish and
put it on her lips. The Signifi-
canoe of all this was a life to-
gether that would be fragrant
and sweet.
The next important moment
was when Mr.. Shoaib was sent
for to hand over his daughter to
Capt. Sadik.
Among the guests last evening
were the Ambassador of Saudi
Arabia Sheikh ASad Al-Faqih.
the Ambassador of Syria and
Nine. Zeineddine, the Ambassa-
dor of Lebanon and Mrs. Malik,