Verdict Reserved By Supreme Court On Asia Bibi’s Appeal Against Execution
Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death.
A special three-member bench of the Supreme Court on Monday reserved its judgement on the final appeal against the execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.
The CJP cautioned the media against discussing the case while reserving the verdict on the appeal. No date has been announced by the court about when it will announce the verdict on the appeal.
The lawyer tells SC witnesses lied in statements
The June 14, 2009 incident was reported on June 19, Asia Bibi’s lawyer Saiful Mulook told the bench. A prayer leader in the village of Katanwala in Nankana Sahib filed a case against Bibi accusing her of a confession to committing blasphemy.
According to a witness statement, the owner of the land where the incident took place was present when Asia confessed, recalled the lawyer. All the witnesses were trying their best to ensure Asia does not get away, he added.
In malicious intent, the investigation was faulty and grounded in malicious intent. The lawyer argued, Section 295-C is inapplicable in such a situation.
Asia Bibi’s case
The allegations against Bibi date back to June 2009, when she was laboring in a field and a row broke out with some Muslim women she was working with.
The allegations against Bibi date back to June 2009, when she was laboring in a field and a row broke out with some Muslim women she was working with.Asia Bibi, accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during an argument with a Muslim woman over a bowl of water, was convicted and sentenced to death in 2010 despite her advocates maintaining her innocence and insisting the accusers held grudges against her.
The Muslim women objected when she was asked to fetch water, saying that as a non-Muslim she was unfit to touch the water bowl. Asia Bibi was accused of blasphemy against Prophet at the local cleric by some women.
A charge punishable by death under legislation that rights groups say is routinely abused to settle personal vendettas. While maintaining the innocence of Bibi, her supporters insisted that it was just a personal dispute. The Vatican has called for her release.
Her only recourse will be a direct appeal to the president for clemency if the SC bench eventually upholds Bibi’s conviction as successive appeals have been rejected.
She could become the first person in Pakistan to be executed for blasphemy if that fails.
