Islamists end protests after deal to bar Bibi from leaving Pakistan
Government says it will not object to review petition over Christian woman’s acquittal
APakistani Islamist group said yesterday it will call off protests over the acquittal of a Christian woman who was facing hanging on blasphemy charges, striking a deal with the government to end three days of protests.
As part of the deal, Asia Bibi, a mother of five who has been on death row since 2010, would be barred from leaving the country, according to a document of the agreement shared by the ultra-Islamist Tehreeke-Labaik (TLP) group.
The government confirmed the agreement, with religious affairs minister Noor-ul Qadri telling Geo TV that “the protest will end tonight”.
Qadri, who was one of the signatories of the five-point document, said the government had agreed to the protesters’ demand that it would not object to a review petition over Asia Bibi’s acquittal.
Maulana Sami-ul Haq, a renowned Islamic scholar and religious leader known as the “Father of Taliban” was assassinated in Rawalpindi yesterday evening. The assassination took place not far from the scene of protest led by Tehreek-e-Labbaik and at a sensitive time when religiopolitical parties are protesting acquittal of Christian woman Asia Bibi in a blasphemy case.
Maulana Sami, who was ill and weak, was trying to mediate to end the protests.
The son of a former Senator, Maulana Hamid-ul Haq said his father was brutally stabbed to death while he was resting in his room. Maulana Sami was 83 years old and a heart patient, according to his son.
“His driver Haqqani had gone out. On his return, he saw that Maulana Sami was lying in his bed in a pool of blood. He was no longer alive,” Hamid told media.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Dr. Arif Alvi expressed sorrow over the death of Maulana Sami.
In a message of condolence from Beijing, Imran Khan said that the nation has been deprived of one of the most learned scholars of Islam and directed to investigate the incident to bring the culprits to justice.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also condoled the death of Maulana Sami and said, “The resolve of the Pakistani nation cannot be deterred by such cowardly acts.”
Experts and journalists express fears that enemies of Pakistan may take undue advantage during his funeral, which is expected to be attended by thousands of hisfollowers and students. “The victim is Maulana Sami, but the real target is Pakistan at this critical time as the assassination may spark further unrest,” said senior journalist Saleem Safi.
He will be buried in his hometown in Akora Khattak, a town in Nowshera district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.