At a glance

Humaira and Mehmood Butt, whose tribulations have riveted Pakistan, faced harassment and detention, before a Lahore High Court judge upheld their secret marriage.

Humaira was accused of adultery by her parents after she announced her marriage to Butt, who holds US residency.

Father figure

MANILA: Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Saturday that he is willing to act as the father of a teenage beauty queen who claims she is his daughter.

Speaking on his weekly radio show, the 61-year-old Estrada said he would take responsibility for the girl, although he declined to confirm whether she was his real daughter.

8220;If she has no father, then I am willing to act as her father so that this matter will be finished,8221; Estrada said. In a message to the girl,he said, 8220;Come to me and I will adopt you and if you are really my child, I will assist you seriously.8221;

The girl8217;s mother has been quoted in local newspapers this week as saying that Estrada, a former movie star, was the father of the girl. A palace spokesman originally denied the statement, but Estrada, who admits to fathering several children out of wedlock, later admitted that he did not know if the girl, 18 year-old Josephine Rose Ejercito, was his child.