WEB DESK
Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was freed from death row in a high-profile blasphemy case has quietly left the country and reunited with her family in Canada, according to Pakistani media.
Bibi, a mother of four from Punjab province, was taken out of the country after repeated death threats from religious extremists, following the quashing of her conviction for blasphemy last year.
Photo Dawn
“Aasia Bibi has left the country. She is a free person and travelled on her independent will,” the source said.
The source did not specify what her destination was.
“The United States welcomes the news that Aasia Bibi has safely reunited with her family,” Pompeo said in a statement. “Aasia Bibi is now free, and we wish her and her family all the best following their reunification.”
Aasia Bibi was acquitted of blasphemy charges by the Supreme Court on October 31, 2018, after spending nine years in jail on death row.
The Pakistani Supreme Court’s quashing of her sentence led to violent protests by religious hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws, while more liberal sections of society urged her release. Bibi’s husband Ashiq Masih in a video message had appealed to the world leaders to help Aasia leave Pakistan for her safety.
What is the case of Aasia Bibi
The allegations against Aasia Bibi were made in June 2009 when she was labouring in a field and a row broke out with some Muslim women she was working with.
She was asked to fetch water, but the Muslim women objected, saying that as a non-Muslim she was unfit to touch the water bowl. A few days later the women went to a local cleric and put forward the blasphemy allegations.
Speaking on the incident that sparked the allegations, the top judge said: “You are saying that Aasia said this [alleged blasphemous words] while addressing 25 people. Was she addressing a jalsa [rally]?”
‘False testimonies’
“In front of the investigation officer, the women said that no dispute had occurred between them,” the chief justice noted. “This case did not have as many honest witnesses as it should have had.”
“The investigation officer says that the female witnesses changed their statements. The testimonies of the investigation officer and the witnesses are different.
“The falsa farm’s owner did not appear in court to record his testimony. According to the law, if a testimony is not recorded under Section 342 of the CrPC [recording a statement by the accused], then it does not have any value.
“The farm’s owner only came forward after the police started the investigation, 20 days after [it started]. His testimony holds no legal value.
“The delay of an hour is enough to create suspicion.”
The lawyer maintained that the petitioners did not add Aasia [to the case] due to any ill intention.
The CJP questioned the five-day delay in registering of the FIR regarding the incident, also pointing out that the testimonies differed over the size and the place of the crowd which had gathered following the accusations against Aasia Bibi.
“Qari sahib says a crowd had gathered and then the FIR was registered. The testimonies of the villagers do not mention a crowd gathering. A lot of lies were told about a crowd having gathered.
“Had this been a normal case, we would have registered cases against the witnesses; we have shown a lot of patience.”
At this, the lawyer admitted that there was “some difference” in the testimonies. “Difference? These are lies,” replied the chief justice.
“Is this the picture of Islam that he [Qari sahib] wants to present? Are these the kind of witnesses [that should be presented in a case]?”
“There is a clear difference between the testimonies of all the witnesses, and yet you block all of Pakistan questioning why you did not get your way,” the CJP reprimanded the lawyer.
“You blame us and say what kind of people are we [for acquitting Aasia] … look at yourself, what kind of accusation have you made.
“We took into account the sensitivity of the case, otherwise we would have put the witnesses in jail for their false testimonies.
“Are we liable to be murdered now that we have executed justice? Is this Islam?
“If a judge says a testimony can’t be trusted, that judge’s verdict is not acceptable to you — because it is not in your favour?”
Reiterating what Chief Justice Khosa had asked multiple times during the hearing, Justice Isa asked: “Tell us what the flaw in the verdict is.”
“We will not hear the case again,” remarked the CJP. “We are hearing [the petition] for the satisfaction of those who gave fatwas [on the verdict] without reading it.” (source Dawn)