After eight years of detention, Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death since 2010 after being accused of blasphemy, was allowed to walk free from jail after a landmark Supreme Court verdict on October 31.
Asia Bibi, whose full name is Asia Noreen, was the second Christian sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws after Ayub Masih who was released in 2002.
This was a high-profile case from the onset, widely covered by international media, as two officials, former Punjab governor Salman Taseer and former Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti (a Christian) who spoke in favour of Bibi were both assassinated. Taseer’s killer Mumtaz Qadri was tried and executed for murder in 2016.
What is the law she was convicted under?
Asia Bibi, 47, was convicted for blasphemy under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly defaming Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The offence carries mandatory death penalty under the law.
What was Asia Bibi accused of and when was she convicted?
Asia Bibi was alleged for “defamatory and sarcastic” statements about the Prophet (PBUH) on June 14, 2009, during an argument with Muslim women. The prosecution presented seven witnesses to support the blasphemy allegations. Two eyewitnesses, Mafia and Asma, claimed they heard Asia make the allegedly blasphemous remarks, and later “admit” to making the statements during a “public gathering”. Another witness, a local cleric, Qari Mohammad Salaam, later registered criminal complaint with the police. She was arrested after a police investigation.
When did the court convict her?
A trial court convicted Asia Bibi for blasphemy in November 2010 and sentenced her to death. In 2015, Supreme Court suspended death sentence for appeal processes.
What was Asia Bibi’s defence?
Asia Bibi stated she had a “quarrel” with Mafia and Asma on June 14, 2009, over their refusal to drink water brought by Asia Bibi because she was Christian. She claimed “some hot words were exchanged” during the argument, after which both women, alongside Qari Mohammad Salaam and his wife fabricated the blasphemy case against her. Asia Bibi also stated that she had “great respect and honour for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Holy Quran” and never made the alleged blasphemous remarks.
What did the Court 2018 verdict say?
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel overturned the death sentence of Bibi.
“The prosecution has categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” concluded the chief justice and said she could immediately walk free from jail if not wanted in connection with any other case. “It is ironical that in the Arabic language the appellant’s name Asia means ‘sinful’,” reads the judgment written by Justice Asif Khosa, “but in the circumstances of the present case she appears to be a person, in the words of Shakespeare’s King Lear, ‘more sinned against than sinning’.”
The detailed verdict observed that “It is the duty of the State to ensure that no incident of blasphemy shall take place in the country,” adding that “… However, it is not for the individuals, or a gathering (mob), to decide as to whether any act” amounts to blasphemy. “It is the mandate of the Court to make such decision after conducting a fully qualified trial and on the basis of credible evidence brought before.”
How many people have been executed under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws?
No one has ever been executed for blasphemy in Pakistan, according to Amnesty International. However, some are imprisoned awaiting a verdict while people from different religious backgrounds, including Muslims, have been attacked and killed by felons following blasphemy accusations. One of the most noticeable incidents is the assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer in 2011 by one of his security guards after campaigning for Bibi while Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was killed in 2011 for being an outspoken critic of the blasphemy laws.
What happens now?
Asia Bibi is expected to leave the country as she has been offered asylum by several countries. Her husband Ashiq Masih and their two daughters, eagerly await her in London. The ruling, which was welcomed by human rights advocates, was strongly condemned by radical Islamist parties who blocked roads in major cities of the country immediately after the acquittal.
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?"