[ad_1]
published
The husband of a Pakistani Christian acquitted after spending eight years on death row for blasphemy appealed to US President Donald Trump to seek refuge, citing the danger to the lives of family members.
Key points:
- The ultra-right party TLP has called for the assassination of the judges who acquitted Asia Bibi
- More than 150 protesters against acquittal have been arrested for arson, vandalism and violence leaders
- The TLP has reached an agreement with the government that could put Ms. Bibi on an "exit checklist"
Ashiq Masih, the husband of Asia Bibi, whose case outraged Christians around the world and was a source of division in Pakistan, also appealed for help in the United Kingdom and Canada .
"Please, help us, we have problems in Pakistan," Masih said in a brief video message.
"I also ask the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to help us, I also ask the Prime Minister of Canada," he added, while asking for help on behalf of his brother, Joseph Nadeem , who assisted Ms. Bibi's case.
The US Embassy and the British and Canadian High Commissions in Islamabad did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the video.
The highest court in Pakistan on Wednesday acquitted Mrs. Bibi (local time) of the charges of the death penalty, infuriating extremist Islamists who organized for three days national demonstrations demanding its execution.
The ultra-right Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party blocked important roads in Pakistan's largest cities during the protests, calling for the assassination of Supreme Court justices who acquitted Ms. Bibi and labeled the Prime Minister. Minister Imran Khan and the main Islam.
The TLP canceled the protests on Friday after reaching an agreement with the government that could see the authorities seek to place Ms. Bibi on an "exit checklist", barring her from leaving the country and allowing the courts to revise The verdict.
But raging protesters had already burned dozens of vehicles and attacked government and public goods.
Police said more than 150 people were arrested for arson, vandalism and violence.
Senior police officer Nayab Haider said the police used video clips to identify people involved in assaults, property fires and vehicles and blocking roads.
In defending the actions of the police, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the government could not spare those involved in acts of violence. He added that the government had cleared the blocked cities without bloodshed.
"No government can tolerate a rebellion against the state," said Chaudhry.
"There will be a war if they send Asia out of the country"
On Saturday, Ms. Bibi's lawyer, Saiful Mulook, said that he had left Pakistan "to save [my] the life of [the] crowd angry "and because of fears for the safety of his family.
Ms. Bibi was found guilty of blasphemy in 2010 for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbors objected to her drinking water as she was naked. He was not a Muslim.
She has always denied blasphemy.
His case attracted the attention of Salman Taseer, then governor of Punjab province, who defended Ms. Bibi before being murdered by her bodyguard in 2011.
The TLP was born of a support movement to the assassin of Mr. Taseer, who was hanged in 2016.
Federal Minority Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was also killed after demanding his release.
Ms. Bibi's whereabouts are not known, but the TLP has warned the authorities against leaving the country.
"There will be a war if they send Asia out of the country," said TLP leader Khadim Hussein Rizvi, following the conclusion of the agreement with the government.
The Islamist parties characterized the release of Ms. Bibi by the Pakistani government, which yielded to Western demands.
Reuters / AP
Topics:
Islam,
Christianity,
unrest-conflict-and-war
Pakistan,
United States
