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EPA
Many have asked for the restoration of the death penalty after the acquittal of Asia Bibi
The husband of a Pakistani Christian acquitted of blasphemy after eight years on death row asked for asylum in the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada.
The husband of Asia Bibi, Ashiq Masih, said that they were in great danger in Pakistan.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, saying the prosecution against him was based on weak evidence.
His acquittal sparked violent protests and the government has now agreed to try to prevent him from leaving the country.
On Saturday, his lawyer, Saif Mulook, fled Pakistan, fearing for his life.
Asia Noreen – commonly known as Asia Bibi – was convicted in 2010 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a dispute with neighbors.
Several countries offered him asylum.
What does her husband say?
In a video message, Masih said he feared for the safety of his family.
"I ask the British Prime Minister to help us and, as far as possible, to grant us freedom," he said.
He also called on Canadian and US leaders for help.
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AFP
The husband and daughter of Asia Bibi say fear for their safety
Earlier, in an interview with German broadcaster DW, he said that he and his family were "scared" after the Pakistani authorities reached an agreement with the radical Tehreek-i-Labaik (TLP) to end to the demonstrations against the acquittal of Asia Bibi.
As part of the agreement, officials will begin proceedings to prevent him from leaving the country.
Nor will the government prevent demonstrators from legally challenging the Supreme Court's decision to release her.
"The deal made me cold in the back," Masih told DW. "It is wrong to set a precedent in which you put pressure on the judicial system."
"The current situation is very dangerous for us, we have no security and we hide here and there, we often change places."
He added, "My wife, Asia Bibi, has already suffered a lot, she spent 10 years in jail, my daughters would want to see her free, but this petition for revision will extend her fate."
UK MP Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said he had asked the Interior Ministry for an "urgent assessment of the situation," the Guardian reported.
At the same time, Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudry told the BBC that security had been strengthened to protect Asia Bibi.
"Yes, there is a situation and we are treating it, but I assure you that his life is not in danger," he told the BBC Newshour program.
He described the agreement reached by the government with the protesters as a "firefighting", claiming that he had helped "resolve the situation without resorting to violence".
What was Asia Bibi accused of?
The lawsuit arose out of a dispute between Asia Bibi and a group of women in June 2009.
They were picking fruit when a row broke out around a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it because her faith had made her unclean.
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Prosecutors said that in the row that followed, the women said that Asia Bibi had to convert to Islam and that she had made offensive remarks about the Prophet Muhammad in response .
She was later beaten at home, during which her accusers confessed to confessing blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation.
In Wednesday's ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that the case was based on unreliable evidence and that his confession was delivered in front of a crowd "threatening to kill her".
Why is this case so divisive?
Islam is the national religion of Pakistan and underpins its legal system. Public support for strict blasphemy laws is strong.
Intransigent politicians have often advocated harsh sentences, in part to strengthen their support base.
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Critics argue that laws have often been used to avenge personal conflicts and that convictions are based on thin evidence.
The vast majority of convicts are Muslims or members of the Ahmadi community, but since the 1990s, many Christians have been convicted. They represent only 1.6% of the population.
The Christian community has been the target of numerous attacks in recent years, leaving a large number of people vulnerable to a climate of intolerance.
Since 1990, at least 65 people were reportedly killed in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy.
