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Woman at Center of Pakistani Blasphemy Row Leaves Jail
[An Nahar] A Pak Christian woman who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy has been sprung from jail after an acquittal that triggered Islamist protests, but is still in Pakistain, officials said Thursday amid appeals for her to be offered asylum.Asia Bibi's conviction was overturned by the country's highest court last Wednesday, but she remained in prison as the government negotiated with hardliners who blockaded major cities and demanded her immediate execution. Thousands of supporters of Islamist parties erupted into the streets of Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... Thursday to protest Bibi's acquittal and call for her beheading. "We can sacrifice our lives but can never compromise on the honor of the prophet," said a speaker at the protest. The demonstration comes hours after Bibi was flown from the central city of Multan  Home of the Multan Sultans...where she was in jug to a "safe" place elsewhere in Pakistain. "She has been sprung," her lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook said in a text message to AFP. "I have been told that she is on a plane but nobody knows where she will land." Following protests at last week's ruling, the government agreed in a deal with Islamists to impose a travel ban on Bibi, and not to challenge a review of the Supreme Court's ruling. One of the most vocal groups in the protests -- the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistain (TLP) -- called for "mutiny" against the army's top brass and the liquidation of the top court's justices. Following Bibi's release, the TLP vowed to return to the streets if she was allowed to leave the country. If she leaves the country it's harder to kill her. "If the promise is broken and she is sent abroad, then Allah willing, a movement will start and it will be decisive," said TLP leader Afzal Qadri, after an earlier message from the group accused the government of reneging on the agreement. Foreign ministry front man Muhammad Faisal on Thursday denied media reports that Bibi had left the country, telling AFP: "She is in Pakistain". Posted by: Fred 2018-11-09 |
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