ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) has acquitted Aasia Bibi in blasphemy case and ordered she should be set free if she is not wanted in any other case.
A 3-member bench of SC presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and justice Mazhar Alam Khan announced the decision Wednesday.
Trial court had awarded death sentence to Aasia Bibi in November 2010 in Nankana Sahib blasphemy case. Lahore High Court (LHC) had upheld trial court decision.
Aasia Bibi had challenged LHC verdict in SC in 2014. SC had reserved judgment on October 8, 2018 regarding appeal plea by the accused against death sentence awarded by trial court and upholding of trial court decision by LHC.
Red zone has been sealed in Islamabad in view of law and order situation and containers have been placed on all entry points of federal capital.
According to police Rangers and Police contingents have been deployed on all entry points of federal capital.
Interior ministry has also directed chief secretaries of all the four provinces to keep security high alert to meet any untoward situation. Mobile phone service is likely to be blocked.
Home department Sindh has recommended to tighten security in Christian settlements and other sensitive places. Security has been beefed up at certain places.
