Islamabad -For the majority of Asia Bibi´s life she lived in obscurity like many of Pakistan´s downtrodden Christian minority, until a blasphemy allegation saw her sentenced to death in a case that divided the nation.
She was thrust into the spotlight in deeply conservative Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated accusations of disrespecting Islam can provoke death at the hands of mobs.
The allegations against Bibi date back to 2009, when Muslim field labourers who were working alongside refused to share water with her because she was Christian.
An argument broke out and a Muslim woman later went to a local cleric and accused Bibi of committing blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed (PUBH) -- a charge punishable by death under legislation that rights groups say is routinely abused to target religious minorities and settle personal scores.
Bibi was convicted and sentenced to hang in 2010, despite her advocates maintaining her innocence and insisting the argument was a personal dispute.
The illiterate, Christian mother has been behind bars in a prison in central Pakistan´s Multan ever since, spending years in a cramped windowless cell during periods of solitary confinement.
Her husband Ashiq Mesih told AFP earlier this year that life in their home country was a struggle for the family under the blasphemy laws.
"Living in Pakistan for us is very difficult. We don´t go out of our home and if we go, we come out very carefully," he said.
Their daughters Esham and Esha, who is mentally and physically disabled, were forced to to live away from their father for some time over safety fears.
- ´Justice prevailed´ -
Bibi´s plight drew the attention of international rights groups and quickly evolved into the most high-profile case in the country, with Pope Benedict XVI calling for her release in 2010.
Her case was also championed by liberal provincial governor Salmaan Taseer, who spoke out in support of Bibi and against intimidation by religious hardliners in repeated television appearances.
Taseer later gunned down in broad daylight in Islamabad in 2011 by one of his own bodyguards who cited the governor´s position on reforming the country´s blasphemy laws as the motive.
The state hung his assassin Mumtaz Qadri in 2016 in a Supreme Court decision that was hailed by progressives, but brought hardliners into the streets supporting Qadri and demanding Bibi´s death.
For years, Bibi, who has asthma, continued to languish in prison even after her appeal reached the Supreme Court in 2014.
On Wednesday, Pakistan´s chief justice said her conviction had been "reversed".
Leading rights groups welcomed the decision even as religious extremists launched protests across the country and swarmed the streets in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi closing down key roads.
"This is a landmark verdict," said Omar Waraich, Deputy South Asia Director at Amnesty International.
"Justice has finally prevailed. The message must go out that the blasphemy laws will no longer be used to persecute the country´s most vulnerable minorities."
Bibi was set for immediate release following the Supreme Court´s ruling. However, officials had yet to say if there was any security arrangements for her protection or if she was planning to leave Pakistan.
Freedom in Pakistan for Bibi would likely mean a life under threat by hardliners who have long called for her death.
But even with an uncertain future, Bibi says the acquittal was an answered prayer.
"I had dreamed that the walls of the prison are falling apart," Bibi told AFP by phone. "I can´t believe it."
On Wednesday, the Pakistani Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi from  charges. Asia Bibi is a Christian who was sentenced to death by hanging in November 2010 and remained in confinement on death row for the past eight years awaiting a final decision, reportedly much of it in solitary confinement.

Headed by the Chief Justice , the bench composed of three judges ruled the prosecution "categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt" and Bibi was freed from the charges. In the 56-page-long decision, the Supreme Court said, "This appeal is allowed. The judgements of the High Court, as well as the Trial Court, are reversed. Consequently, the conviction as also the sentence of death awarded to the appellant is set aside and she is acquitted of the charge".

In 2009, two Muslim women accused Bibi of defaming Islamic prophet . Bibi was arrested under 295-C of the  after local cleric Qari Mohammad Salaam registered a formal complaint against Bibi. Blasphemy against Islam is punishable by death or by life imprisonment. Bibi's case was appealed in the Supreme Court after Lahori  upheld her conviction in 2014.

Following the verdict, a  (TLP) leader, Afzal Qadri, said "The judges who have ordered the release of the accursed Asia Bibi are all liable to be killed under religious edict". Demonstrations broke out in various cities across the country after the verdict. Another leader of TLP, Khadim Rizvi, said he would "paralyse the country within hours" if Bibi was acquitted and set free.

A main high-way in Pakistan's capital Islamabad and several roads in Karachi and Punjab province's capital Lahore were obstructed by supporters of TLP and other religious groups sparking disordered traffic jams. Per the local reports, governments of three provinces — , Punjab, and Sindh— had imposed section 144 which prevented gathering of more than four people in public. Section 144 was imposed till November 10.

The verdict of Bibi's case was welcomed by Amnesty International. South Asia director deputy Omar Waraich said, "Justice has finally prevailed. The message must go out that the blasphemy laws will no longer be used to persecute the country's most vulnerable minorities". Christians account for about one and a half percent of the population of Pakistan. In 2010, then Catholic Pope Benedict XVI called for Bibi's release.

Regarding the blockades in various cities and the threats against the judges, Pakistani Prime Minister  addressed the public via TV broadcast and said, "Which government can function when people say that kill the judges, rebel against the army chief? ... If the Supreme Court does not issue a verdict according to their wishes, does that mean they will come out on the roads and paralyse the country?"

Prime Minister Imran Khan also said, "They are inciting you for their own political gain, you should not get trapped by them for the sake of the country, they are doing no service to Islam ... We will protect people's properties and lives, we will not allow any sabotage, we will not allow any traffic to be stopped". He supported the Supreme Court decision and said it was "according to the constitution of Pakistan and Pakistan's constitution is according to the teachings of Islam".

After the verdict was announced, Bibi told ''Agence France-Presse'', "I can't believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?"