The Supreme Court on October 31 overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian facing execution for blasphemy, reports Daily Times.A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, with Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel its members, had reserved its ruling on Asia Bibi’s final legal appeal against execution on October 8.“The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgement of the high court as well as the trial court is reversed. Her conviction is set aside,” the Chief Justice said while announcing the verdict to a packed courtroom. “She is to be released forthwith if not required in any other case,” he added.
The 56-page detailed judgement was authored by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, with a separate concurrent opinion note from Justice Khosa.“It is a well settled principle of law that one who makes an assertion has to prove it. Thus, the onus rests on the prosecution to prove guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt throughout the trial,” the order noted. “Presumption of innocence remains throughout the case until such time the prosecution on the evidence satisfies the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence alleged against him,” it added.“Keeping in mind the evidence produced by the prosecution against the alleged blasphemy committed by the appellant, the prosecution has categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” the verdict concluded. “It is not for the individuals, or a gathering (mob), to decide as to whether any act falling within the purview of Section 295-C has been committed or not, because as stated earlier, 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 it,” it maintained.“Blasphemy is a serious offence but the insult of the appellant’s religion and religious sensibilities by the complainant party and then mixing truth with falsehood in the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was also not short of being blasphemous,” Justice Khosa said in his note.
Following the Supreme Court decision acquitting and ordering the release of Asia Bibi, the supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) took the streets in several parts of the country, reports The Nation.TLP staged protests in the major cities including, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and main highways were blocked.The Punjab Home Department has imposed Section 144 barring the gathering of people in public places. Section 144 has been imposed across the province from October 31 to November 10. TLP Chairman Khadim Hussain Rizvi called for countrywide protests and lead a protest staged at Charing Cross, Mall Road, Lahore. The Lahore-Islamabad Motorway was blocked at Sheikhupura. The GT Road has also been blocked.In Islamabad main roads and areas of Faizabad, Aabpara, and Kashmir Highway adjacent to Aabpara have been blocked by protesters.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on October 31 fully backed the Supreme Court’s decision in the Asia Bibi case, warning protesters against clashing with the State, reports Daily Times.“I’m here only because a Supreme Court verdict was announced today. The way a small section reacted to it and the language they used … I am forced to address you,” the PMsaid hours after Supreme Courtacquitted Asia Bibi. “The decision of the judges is according to the constitution and Pakistan’s constitution is in line with the teachings of Islam,” he said.“Some elements are inciting you to violence for their own political gains, you should not get trapped by them for the sake of the country, they are doing no service to Islam,” he said in the televised broadcast. He noted that because of Pakistan’s efforts, the European Court of Human Rights was forced to agree that disrespect of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was unlawful. “Our faith is incomplete if we don’t love Prophet [Peace Be Upon Him],” he said.