Pakistan: Asia Bibi's death sentence in blasphemy case overturned in landmark verdict, protests follow

Asia Bibi's case gained prominence in Pakistan when the former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws.

This file handout photograph taken on November 20, 2010 and released by the Punjab Governor's House shows the then-governor of Punjab Salman Taseer (R) handing over a document to Asia Bibi (L) who was sentenced to hang in Pakistan's central province of Punjab after being found guilty of insulting the Prophet Mohammed, at the Central Jail in Sheikhupura. Pakistan's Supreme Court on October 31, 2018 overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother facing execution for blasphemy, in a landmark case which has incited deadly violence and reached as far as the Vatican. HANDOUT / PUNJAB GOVERNOR'S HOUSE / AFP

New Delhi: In a landmark verdict, Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of a Christian woman ‘Asia Bibi’ who had been sentenced capital punishment for blasphemy, sparking widespread protests in the Islamic country. The controversial case of 2010 in which Christian lady named Asia Bibi was accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours, has been deeply divisive in the country with strong blasphemy laws.  Asia Bibi, who has always maintained her innocence in the case, spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement. Aisa Bibi blasphemy case: It was in 2009, Bibi was accused of committing blasphemy. She was convicted in 2010 by the trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014. She had then appealed against the conviction to the Supreme Court, which for the first time heard the case in July 2015. Bibi's case gained prominence when the former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws. Former military dictator of Pakistan Ziaul Haq had promulgated the stringent blasphemy laws in the 1980s under which if a person is convicted m he or she is awarded death sentence. On Wednesday, the country’s apex court, in a three-member bench led by chief justice Saqib Nisar, issued the verdict, three weeks after they had reached a decision. The delay followed threats by blasphemy campaigners to hold protests. "Her conviction is set aside and she is to be relieved forthwith if not required in other charges," said Nisar, reading out the judgment. Widespread protests followed the verdict: However, the judgement led to strong protests in different cities of Pakistan. Protestors blocked a highway linking the capital, Islamabad with garrison city of Rawalpindi and the old airport, according to an announcement by Islamabad police. Punjab, the country's most populous province, was on high alert and its Home Department banned all kinds of public gatherings until November 10, according to police. Tahreek-i-Labaik Pakistan, an Islamic political party, was leading the protest in Lahore where a large number of its activists gathered on the Mall Road. Security officials said protests were also being held in Karachi and other cities by groups linked with religious parties. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal chief Fazlur Rehman denounced the verdict and alleged that it was influenced by unnamed "foreign powers". There were reports that mosques at different places asked the people to take to the streets against Bibi's acquittal. Despite protests by extremists, the verdict was hailed on social media. Bibi's lawyer Saiful Mulook also told media that it was the "happiest day" of his life. Fear remains: Though, Bibi is being released but there are fears that she might be at risk of being attacked by militants. Critics say strict blasphemy laws have often been used to get revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence.  Dozens of people have been charged under the laws. (with inputs from PTI)