‘Blasphemy’mum flies to freedom
Christian set for Canada reunion with girls after jail hell in Pakistan
A MOTHER who faced a death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan has finally escaped the country.
Devout Christian Asia Bibi – who was let out of prison seven months ago – was last night on her way to be reunited with her daughters in Canada.
Mrs Bibi, 53, had been languishing in custody enduring an agonising wait while her freedom was blocked by the Pakistan army. She had been in failing health and was being denied access to medical care. But last night the Daily Mail was told that she had been allowed to leave at last.
The development means she is finally safe from lynch mobs who were demanding her execution. The mother of two endured eight years on death row for allegedly insulting Islam.
She was convicted in 2010 of offending the Prophet Mohammed under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws.
Last October she was freed on appeal, sparking violent demonstrations stoked up by Taliban supporters.
She was put under armed protection from Islamist death squads as she sought asylum in a Western country.
Britain was urged to offer her sanctuary, but never did – and was accused of ‘pulling up the drawbridge’. Eventually, Canadian
‘Pulling up the drawbridge’
prime minister Justin Trudeau stepped in. Her daughters are already there, awaiting their mother.
Mrs Bibi’s extraction from Pakistan was repeatedly delayed, to mounting alarm among family and friends.
After she was freed on appeal, Mrs Bibi was blocked from leaving the country when Imran Khan, the prime minister and former cricketer and London playboy, promised hardliners she would stay put pending the case being reviewed.
Last month three judges upheld her acquittal, removing the final obstacle to her fleeing the country – a brave decision, given her case has already seen senior officials murdered for supporting her.
Last night a source said: ‘After being released from death row, she thought she was finally free. But she found she was being hunted by extremists. For the last few months she has been living in fear for her life.
‘Canada’s prime minister has been incredibly helpful. Asia’s two daughters flew out there to start new lives in safety. But Asia and her husband could not go with them.
‘The Pakistan army’s objection was that if they let her go, and she went public rubbishing Pakistan, it would be bad for all of them.’
The Mail understands Mrs Bibi and her husband Ashiq Masih were spirited out of Pakistan this week.