Protests erupt in major cities as SC acquits Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges
Protests have erupted in the major cities of Pakistan after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia BiBi of blasphemy charges on Wednesday.
According to reports, the demonstrators belonging to the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and other religious groups took to streets in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and others cities to protest the apex court's ruling.
Asia Bibi acquitted: Complete Supreme Court verdict
The protesters were gathering at Islamabad's Faizabad Interchange, outside the Punjab Assembly in Lahore and on several locations in Karachi.
Police in the three cities were advising people to take alternative routes to avoid inconvenience.
Karachi
Baldia Town, Numaish Chowrangi, Shahra-e-Faisal, Star Gate, Sohrab Goth, Al-Asif Square, Orangi Town Number 5, Surjani Town, 4-K Chowrangi and Tower were affected by the protests.
According to Traffic Police the road leading to Baldia Town from Sher Shah was closed for the traffic. The vehicles coming from Hyderabad are being
diverted to Abull Asfahani Road due to closure of Sohrab Goth.
People using the Numaish Chowrangi road have been asked to take alternative routes.
Tarrafic was diverted to II Chandrigarh Road from Jinnah Bridge while Babaye Urdu Road was being used by theas an alternative after closure of MA JInnah ROad.
LAHORE
TLP Chief Maulana Khadim Rizvi was leading a demonstration at Lahore's Chairing Cross while Multan Road, Manga Mandi, Cungi Amar Sidhu, Darogha Wala Chowk was also witnessing protests.
Meanwhile , the Punjab government has imposed Section 144 in view of the protests in the province.
ISLAMABAD
Protesters were thronging the Faizabad Interchange while Islamabad Expressway was closed at Shakrial and Grand Trunk Road at Gojar Khan.
PESHAWAR
Demonstration were being held at Ring Road, Jameel Chowk and the Press Club.
Security beefed up
Provincial governments have beefed up security in view of the protests in several cities. Arrangements were being made to maintain law and order situation.
Red Zone
Islamabad Red Zone has also been sealed due to security concerns. The road from Rawal Dam roundabout to Red Zone has also been closed for traffic by placing containers to block the passage.
Verdict
Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother facing execution for blasphemy.
"The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgement of high court as well as trial court is reversed. Her conviction is set aside," said Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in the ruling.
Bibi appeared to be in state of disbelief after hearing the decision from her lawyer.
"I can´t believe what I am hearing, will i go out now? Will they let me out, really?" Bibi told AFP by phone from prison after the ruling.
"I just don´t know what to say, I am very happy, I can´t believe it."
Bibi was set to be released immediately according to the court, although there was no word if any security arrangements were being made for her protection.
Her legal team celebrated the court´s decision amid beefed-up security in Islamabad after religious hardliners had vowed to protest any acquittal of the case.
Her case drew the attention of international rights groups and swiftly became the most high-profile in the country.
Pope Benedict XVI called for her release in 2010, while in 2015 her daughter met his successor and the current head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis.
The allegations against Bibi date back to 2009, when she was working in a field and was asked to fetch water. Muslim women she was labouring with allegedly objected, saying that as a non-Muslim she was unfit to touch the water bowl.
The women went to a local cleric and accused Bibi of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed, a charge punishable by death under colonial-era legislation.
Landmark case
During the appeal hearing on October 8, a three-member panel of Supreme Court justices appeared to question the case against her, with Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, considered Pakistan´s top expert in criminal law, listing flaws in the proceedings.
"I don´t see any derogatory remarks vis-a-vis the holy Quran as per the FIR," added Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, referring to the initial complaint filed in the case.
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?"