| Sometimes the innocent are succored despite the efforts of the evil ones. |
...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless...
advocates.
Asia Bibi, a mother of four, had been living on death row since 2010, when she became the first woman to be sentenced to death by hanging under Pakistain’s draconian blasphemy laws, which critics say are too harsh and often misused.
She was condemned for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbors objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Moslem.
Bibi has always denied blasphemy.
The case outraged Christians worldwide and has been a source of division within Pakistain, where two politicians who sought to help Bibi were assassinated.
Chief Justice Saqib Nasir, who headed a special three-person bench set up for the appeal, cited the Koran in his ruling, writing that "Tolerance is the basic principle of Islam" and noting the religion condemns injustice and oppression.
DEATH THREATS
Supporters of Islamist political party Tehrik-e-Labaik (TLP), which was founded to support blasphemy laws, immediately condemned the ruling and blocked roads in major cities, pelting police with stones in the eastern city of Lahore.
The TLP’s leadership called for the death of Nasif, the chief justice, and two other judges on the panel.
"The patron in chief of TLP, Muhammad Afzal Qadri, has issued the edict that says the chief justice and all those who ordered the release of Asia deserve death," said party front man Ejaz Ashrafi.
The party also called for the ouster of the government of new Prime Minister Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
The TLP was founded out of a movement supporting a bodyguard who assassinated Lahore provincial governor Salman Taseer for advocating for Bibi in 2011. Federal minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti was also killed after calling for her release.
Bibi’s lawyer on Wednesday called the court ruling "great news" for Pakistain.
"Asia Bibi has finally been served justice," lawyer Saiful Mulook told Rooters. "Pakistain’s Supreme Court must be appreciated that it upheld the law of the land and didn’t succumb to any pressure."
Street protests and blockades of major roads were spreading by mid-afternoon, paralyzing parts of Islamabad, Lahore and other cities. Some schools in Islamabad sent students home early and long lines of cars formed at fuel stations as residents worried about prolonged protests.