Protests against Asia Bibi acquittal continue in Pak
Army spokesman says protesters should seek legal solution
ISLAMABAD: Most cities in Pakistan ground to a halt Friday as protesters took to the streets to vent their anger over the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.
Most of the protests took place after Friday prayers as supporters of different religious and hardline groups blocked the main roads in Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi as well as smaller towns, demanding that Asia be put to death.
Items of daily use and petrol stocks became scarce in many parts of the country as protesters blocked key highways and attacked shops and cars.
Incidents of arson and looting were reported from different cities. Most offices, educational institutions and businesses remained shut while train and bus services were affected.
Lahore-based advocate Waqqas Mir said a number of cars were damaged by protesters on Lahore-Islamabad motorway. He said the damage was widespread while the police or law enforcement agencies were not intervening to protect property or lives.
Minister of state for interior Shehryar Afridi told reporters the government is showing utmost restraint in resolving the situation. The violence was restricted to “some pockets of various cities”, he added. Afridi said the federal government’s negotiating team and the Punjab chief minister were communicating with the leadership of the “agitators”, adding they hoped to see “positive progress”.
There was criticism on social media for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to go ahead with his first official visit to China. “The country has been left leaderless and rudderless,” commented analyst Murtaza Solangi.
Former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal told reporters in Islamabad that Khan’s first priority should have been towards law and order. “The government is confused on how to proceed.”
The protests did not show any sign of abating. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Fazlur Rehman told a rally in Peshawar the Supreme Court’s verdict was issued under “Western pressure”. He said the rulers want to turn Pakistan into a secular state. “If political parties do not accept verdicts against their founders, then this judgement is unacceptable to us as well,” he said, citing the rulings against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Most religious parties said they would continue to protest until their demands are met.
Responding to criticism of inaction, chief military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor distanced the army from the controversy surrounding Asia’s acquittal, saying the decision was made by the court. He advised protesting religio-political parties to seek a legal solution.
He referred to a review petition filed by Muhammad Salam, and said protesters should wait. “Unfortunately, the army is dragged into every matter,” he said when asked about anti-military statements issued by protesters. “This is a legal matter and it is sad that negative statements are being issued against the army. We are tolerating a lot,” he added, pointing out “certain limitations” imposed by the Constitution on what can be said about state institutions, and action can be taken in case of violations.