Blasphemy: Pak top court acquits Christian woman on death row
Court orders Asia’s immediate release, verdict sparks nation- wide protests
Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was facing death sentence for blasphemy, and ordered to release her immediately.
The verdict sparked protests by the religious groups across the country who demanded resignation of the judges and the ouster of the government.
A three- member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard the case during which, Asia’s appeal against her execution was approved. “The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgment of high court as well as trial court is reversed. Her conviction is set aside,” said CJP in the ruling. The top judge announced: “She is to be set free if she is not wanted in any other case.”
Ms Bibi was convicted and sentenced to hang by a trial court in 2010. In, 2014, Lahore high court ( LHC) had upheld the verdict.
Counsel for Ms Asia, Saiful Malook, said that her client got justice in the end and the case has been proven false. He also thanked the chief justice and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.
Security was increased across the federal capital as the apex court announced the verdict in the case.
The top court had reserved verdict on the accused plea against the conviction on October 8. The federal police had deployed a heavy contingent of police officials and secured entry points of the red zone with containers.
The 51- year- old Christian woman was on the death row since November 2010 after she was convicted on charges of committing blasphemy during an argument with two Muslim women in Sheikhupura.
Her case gained prominence after then Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer pleaded for a retrial of her case and was subsequently shot dead. Ms Bibi challenged the verdict in October 2014, however, the LHC upheld the death sentence. The apex court had stayed the execution in July 2015.
After a three- year hiatus, a three- judge special bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, heard the appeal.