Asia Bibi Blasphemy Case: Lawyer Leaves Pak, Cites Threats to Life

“I need to stay alive as I have to fight the legal battle for Asia Bibi,” Saif-ul-Mulook said.

Pakistani protesters burn a poster image of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who has spent eight-years on death row accused of blasphemy and acquitted by a Supreme Court, in Hyderabad, Pakistan on Thursday, 1 November.

(Photo: AP)

Two days after the Supreme Court of Pakistan set aside the death sentence for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was earlier convicted of blasphemy and accused of insulting Prophet Mohammad, her lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook, left the country on Saturday, 3 November, saying his life was under threat, reported AFP.

Bibi had been on a death row for nearly a decade, and the Supreme Court’s decision to free her sparked protests across the country.

Speaking to news agency AFP, Mulook said, “In the current scenario, it's not possible for me to live in Pakistan.” He further added that he needs to stay alive to fight the legal battle for Asia Bibi.

However, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party (TLP) called off the mass protests on Friday, 2 November after reaching an agreement with the government.

According to a news report in AFP, the agreement said that the government will not object to an appeal of the verdict, filed earlier in the Supreme Court and legal proceedings will be followed to impose a travel on Bibi.

“What’s painful is the response of the government. They cannot even implement an order of the country’s highest court.”

Saif-ul-Mulook to AFP

(With inputs from AFP)