KARACHI: Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) took to the streets in several parts of the country on Wednesday following a Supreme Court verdict acquitting and ordering the release of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death over blasphemy allegations.
Protests were being staged in different cities including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, with major roads blocked.
The Punjab Home Department has imposed Section 144 barring the gathering of people in public places. Section 144 has been imposed across the province from October 31 to November 10.
Lahore
In Lahore, a protest led by TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi was being staged at Charing Cross.
The Lahore-Islamabad Motorway was blocked at Sheikhupura. The GT Road has also been blocked.
Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) block the Islamabad Highway to protest in Islamabad on October 31, 2018.—AFP photo
Islamabad
In Islamabad, Faizabad, Aabpara, and Kashmir Highway adjacent to Aabpara have been blocked by protesters.
Karachi
According to Karachi traffic police, the following roads in the metropolis were blocked:
Supporters of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) block a street during a protest in Lahore on October 31, 2018.—AFP photo
Both sides of the road on Lyari Expressway from Karachi to Hyderabad were closed for traffic. Traffic was being diverted to Al-Asif Square towards Abul-Hassan Asfahani road.
Roads were also closed for traffic at Star Gate.
Tower road was closed for traffic, with diversions from Jinnah Bridge towards MT Khan Road, MA Jinnah Road towards Baba-e-Urdu Chowk, and II Chundrigar Road towards University Centre.
Both sides of the road on Numaish Chowk were also closed for traffic.
Peshawar
In Peshwar, protests were being staged at the Ring Road, GT Road, Jamil Chowk, and outside the Peshawar Press Club.
Protests were also being staged in Gujranwala, Layyah, Chishtian, Mansehra, Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, and other cities across the country.
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?"