Fearing for life, Asia Bibi's lawyer flees Pak; requests govt to protect family
November 03, 2018 15:34
The lawyer of Asia Bibi fled Pakistan early Saturday after fearing for his life amid countrywide protests by hundreds of radical Islamist hardliners against the acquittal of the Christian woman who was sentenced to death for committing blasphemy, media reports said.
Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.
Her lawyer Saiful Malook claimed that he was facing life threats from sections of lawyers and it was difficult for him to practice in the prevailing situation, the Express Tribune reported.
He, however, clarified that he would return to Pakistan to represent his client at the hearing of the review petition if the army provided him security.
"My family is also facing immense security threats and the federal government should provide security to them," Malook said.
It was not immediately known as to which place he was headed for in his bid to evade life threats and how long would he stay there.
Meanwhile, the complainant in the case, Qari Muhammad Saalam, has requested the Supreme Court for the early hearing of a review petition against its October 31 order acquitting Bibi, who was booked for blasphemy in 2009.
-- PTI
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