Christian spared death in Pakistan

Christian mother Asia Bibi who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges has been cleared by the country’s top court.

She was accused by neighbours after a row about water and has been held at an undisclosed location for security reasons. Her release has sparked massive protests.

PAKISTAN’S TOP court has acquitted a Christian woman who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, a landmark ruling that could ignite mass protests or violence by Islamists.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar announced the verdict to a packed courtroom and ordered Asia Bibi released. She had been held at an undisclosed location for security reasons and is expected to leave the country.

The charges against Ms Bibi date back to a hot day in 2009 when she went to get water for her and her fellow farm workers.

Two Muslim women refused to drink from a container used by a Christian, and a few days later, a mob accused her of blasphemy. She was convicted and sentenced to death.

The mere rumour of blasphemy can ignite mob violence and lynchings in Pakistan.

Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province, was shot and killed by one of his guards in 2011 for defending Ms Bibi and criticising the misuse of the blasphemy law.

The assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, has been celebrated as a martyr by hardliners since he was hanged for the killing, with millions visiting a shrine set up for him near Islamabad.

Ahead of the verdict, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a hardline cleric, called on his supporters to gather in all major cities to express their love for the prophet and to protest if Ms Bibi was released.

Shortly after the ruling, hundreds of Islamists blocked a key road to the capital, Islamabad.

Islamists in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi and in the northwestern city of Peshawar were also gathering for the protests. Similar rallies were held elsewhere.

Paramilitary troops were deployed in Islamabad to prevent protesters from reaching the Supreme Court.

Ms Bibi’s family and her lawyer say she never insulted the Prophet. In previous hearings her lawyer, Saiful Malook, pointed to contradictions in evidence from witnesses. The two Muslim women who pressed charges have denied they quarrelled with her.

Critics of the blasphemy law have said it is used to settle personal scores or to attack minority communities. Ms Bibi’s case was closely followed internationally amid concern for Pakistan’s religious minorities.

Ms Bibi’s husband Ashiq Masih. said yesterday: “I am very happy. My children are very happy. We are grateful to God. We are grateful to the judges for giving us justice.”

I am very happy. My children are very happy. The husband of Asia Bibi, Ashiq Masih, welcomes the judge’s verdict.