A Christian woman kept on death row in Pakistan for nearly a decade has been freed after her conviction for blasphemy was overturned by the country's highest court.
Asia Bibi was acquitted of defaming the Prophet Mohammed in a case which has outraged Christians worldwide and become a source of deep division inside Pakistan.
The ruling by Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar sparked protests from hardline Islamist parties, who had threatened to paralyse the country if Ms Bibi was spared.
Demonstrations blocking major roads in the country were spreading by mid-afternoon, paralysing parts of Islamabad, Lahore and other cities. Supporters of Islamist political party Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP), which was founded to support blasphemy laws were among the protests.
Her case became a symbol of the growing extremism within the country after two politicians who tried to help her were assassinated. Now the ruling has brought threats against the judge behind the ruling.
"They all three deserve to be killed. Either their security should kill them, their driver kill them, or their cook kill them," TLP co-founder Muhammad Afzal Qadri told a protest in Lahore. "Whoever, who has got any access to them, kill them before the evening."
He also called for the ouster of the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan and for army officers to rise up against powerful military chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who he said "should be sacked from the army".
Extra police were called in to guard government buildings in the capital, Islamabad, and to protect the residents of Christian neighbourhoods.
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Pakistani protesters burn tires while blocking a main road during a protest after a court decision, in Karachi, Pakistan. Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent eight years on death row under Pakistan's blasphemy law was acquitted and ordered released Wednesday by the country's top court, a ruling that raised fears of violence by religious extremists who held angry protests over the verdict. AP Photo -
Protesters burn tires while blocking a main road during a protest after a controversial court decision in Karachi, Pakistan. AP Photo -
A view of a market that was shut down following violent protests, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Karachi, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
A view of a market that was shut down following violent protests, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Karachi, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
A view of a market that was shut down following violent protests, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Karachi, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
A view of a market that was shut down following violent protests, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Karachi, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
A view of a market that was shut down following violent protests, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Karachi, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
Supporters of Islamic political party Ahle Sunnat Waljamaat shout slogans during a protest, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Sargodha, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
A Pakistani watches a televised speech by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding the acquittal of a Christian woman Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five who has been on death row since 2010 accused of blasphemy, in Karachi, Pakistan. Khan says he will take stern action against any radical Islamists who incite people to kill three judges who acquitted a Christian woman who faced the death penalty under the country's blasphemy laws. AP Photo -
A view of a market that was shut down following violent protests, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Karachi, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
A view of a market that was shut down following violent protests, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, and annulled her death sentence for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in 2009, in Karachi, Pakistan. Radical Islamist groups protested on 01 November, in a number of Pakistan cities against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence of Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been convicted in 2010 of blasphemy. EPA -
Supporters of Pakistani religious groups gather and block a main road to the capital center following a court decision in favor of a Christian woman in Islamabad, Pakistan. Christian woman Asia Bibi acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country, her family said Thursday as radical Islamists mounted rallies for a second day against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tires in protest. AP Photo -
Authorities place shipping containers to stop protesters at an entrance to the capital center following a court decision in favor of a Christian woman in Islamabad, Pakistan. Christian woman Asia Bibi acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country, her family said Thursday as radical Islamists mounted rallies for a second day against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tires in protest. AP Photo -
Supporters of Pakistan's religious groups rally to condemn a court decision in favor of a Christian woman in Islamabad, Pakistan. Christian woman Asia Bibi was acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country, her family said Thursday, as radical Islamists mounted rallies for a second day against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tires in protest. AP Photo -
People walk past shipping containers placed by authorities to stop protesters at an entrance of capital following a court decision in favor of a Christian woman in Islamabad, Pakistan. Christian woman Asia Bibi acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country, her family said Thursday as radical Islamists mounted rallies for a second day against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tires in protest. AP Photo -
Supporters of Pakistani religious groups block a main road to the capital following a court decision in favor of a Christian woman in Islamabad, Pakistan. Christian woman Asia Bibi acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country, her family said Thursday as radical Islamists mounted rallies for a second day against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tires in protest. AP Photo
By late afternoon, two other religious movements, including one headed by Hafiz Saeed, who has a $10 million US bounty on his head for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, announced that they would also join the protests.
Feelings surrounding her case are running so high, that the mother-of-four is expected to have to leave the country and apply for asylum overseas almost immediately.
Western embassies are understood to have been planning for weeks to help her out in the event of her acquittal.
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"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 Justice Nisar in the ruling.
Ms Bibi's ordeal began in 2009, when she was working in a field and was asked to fetch water. Muslim women working alongside her allegedly objected, saying that as a non-Muslim she was unfit to touch the water bowl.
The women complained to a local cleric and accused her of blasphemy, a charge punishable by death. Ms Bibi denied blasphemy, but was sentenced to hang.
The three-member appeal panel of Supreme Court justices questioned the case against her, which supporters had always said was fabricated through malice.
Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, considered Pakistan's top expert in criminal law, listed flaws in the proceedings.
"I don't see any derogatory remarks vis-a-vis the holy Koran as per the FIR," added Justice Nisar, referring to the initial complaint filed in the case.
One of Ms Bibi’s daughters, Eisham Ashiq, described her mother's acquittal as “the most wonderful moment in my life”.
“I want to hug my mother and then celebrate with my family. I am grateful to God for listening to our prayers,” she said in a statement.
The verdict was welcomed by human rights groups though.
“There is every reason to be relieved at Asia Bibi's acquittal,” said the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
“And every reason to introspect yet again how and why the blasphemy laws are open to being so easily used to settle personal grievances.”
The long-running case sparked international condemnation and Pope Benedict XVI called for her release in 2010.
According to a 2018 report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, around 40 people are believed to be on death row or serving a life sentence in Pakistan for blasphemy.
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Supporters of the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan Islamist political party chant slogans as they set ablaze tires to block the road. Reuters -
Pakistani police officers stand guard outside the supreme court in Islamabad. AP Photo -
Saif ul Mulook, a Pakistani lawyer for Asia Bibi, arrives at the Supreme Court in Islamabad. AFP -
Pakistani lawyers who are contesting the case against Asia Bib speak to media outside the Supreme court. AP Photo -
Pakistani paramilitary soldiers stand guard outside the Supreme Court. AFP -
Pakistani workers block a road leading to Supreme court. AP Photo -
Supporters of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan political party chant slogans during a protest against the court decision. AFP -
Supporters of a Pakistani religious group block the Islamabad Highway with trucks. AFP
Accusations of blasphemy are so charged that others have been lynched or burned in ovens by street mobs.
Rights groups say anti-blasphemy legislation has been used to justify censorship, persecution, and even murder.
The issue has also become a political weapon, with accusations of being soft on blasphemy used to silence or smear critics.
In 2011, Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Pakistan's most populous province Punjab, was assassinated by his own bodyguard after calling for Ms Bibi's release and reform of blasphemy laws.
His killer, Mumtaz Qadri, was executed in 2016 and has been feted as a hero by hardliners.
Yet politicians, including new prime minister Imran Khan, invoked blasphemy during a general election this summer and have vowed to defend the laws.
The ultra-Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party, which makes punishing blasphemy its main campaign rallying cry, earlier this month warned the court against any "concession or softness" for Ms Bibi.
"If there is any attempt to hand her over to a foreign country, there will be terrible consequences," TLP said in a statement before Wednesday's ruling.
