Pakistan on Boil as Radical Islamists Protest Against Acquittal of Christian Woman in Blasphemy Case

Islamabad/Lahore, Nov 1 (PTI) Hundreds of radical Islamists poured onto the streets and blocked major roads across Pakistan as they held protests for the second day on Thursday against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy, defying Prime Minister Imran Khan's stern warning.

The government said that negotiations were being held with the protestors to convince them to disperse peacefully.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi told the National Assembly that negotiations were underway with the agitators to resolve the matter amicably.

"The nation will soon hear good news in this regard….We do not want use of force against the protestors,” he said.

Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex court's judgement, which was pronounced Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

Afridi assured that full protection would be provided to Asia and the judges who acquitted her.

Bibi was released from a jail in Multan City on Thursday morning and is likely to have flown out of the country as the landmark verdict sparked countrywide protests and death threats from hardline groups.

It has not been confirmed yet whether she moved to an undisclosed location in Pakistan or flew out of the country. "I cannot confirm whether she left the country or not," an official of the Punjab government said.

A source in the government said Bibi might have flown out to a European country by now.

Her all family members including husband and five children have shifted to the UK.

The News had reported that Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih had reached Pakistan along with his family from the UK to shift her abroad.

Meanwhile, the complainant in the case, Qari Muhammad Salaam, on Thursday filed a review petition through his counsel Ghulam Mustafa against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn her conviction.

The petitioner has also sought the placement of her name on the Exit Control List (ECL) till the judgement is reviewed.

The ruling party has clarified that it has nothing to do with the review petition and it has not placed her name on the ECL and does not plan to do so.

On Wednesday, following the protests, Section 144 was imposed till November 10 across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan barring the gathering of more than four persons in public places as well as pillion riding.

Prime Minister Khan and Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa held a meeting Wednesday night to discuss "the overall situation in the country and other important issues".

The decision to make efforts to resolve the issue peacefully was taken in the Cabinet meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Khan, according to information minister Fawad Chaudhry.

“We want that the matter is resolved peacefully, so we are showing tolerance towards protestors,” he said.

The information minister however said the state's intent to avoid use of force to remove protesters must not be construed as a sign of weakness and none would be allowed to make a war on the state of Pakistan.

To a question about possibility of use of force against protestors, Chaudhry said consultation were being held at various levels but government's preference was to end protests peacefully.

He also said that a delegation of government held talks with Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif and chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – the leaders of two main opposition parties – to discuss the latest protests.

"The opposition leaders assured the government of support in the efforts to resolve the issue of protests,” he said.

Traffic officials said major disturbance was witnessed on Thursday in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad where dozens of protestors were enforcing the blockade of major roads and burning tyres.

The largest province of Punjab, which was facing major protests, decided to close down schools for a day and also cancelled supplementary Secondary School Certificate examination.

Private schools in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces also remained shut. However, educational institutions were open in Islamabad.

Hospitals were on high alert due to fear of clashes as police and paramilitary forces tried to contain the disturbance. Long queues of traffic were witnessed in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities due to blockade of several major roads. Mobile phone and internet services were also suspended in different parts of the country.

Protests were also being staged in Gujranwala, Mansehra, Faisalabad and other cities across the country.

Bibi's case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the controversial blasphemy laws.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar said blasphemy is not acceptable to anyone, but the judiciary cannot punish someone if there is no proof against that person.

Talking tough, Prime Minister Khan Wednesday told hardliners not to "confront the State" and refrain from vandalism.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)