The daughters of Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi pose with an image of their mother while standing outside their residence in Sheikhupura located in Pakistan's Punjab Province
The husband of a Pakistani Christian woman acquitted after spending eight years on death row on charges of blasphemy has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump for refuge, citing danger to family members' lives.
Ashiq Masih, the husband of Asia Bibi, whose case has outraged Christians worldwide and been a source of division within Pakistan, also appealed to the United Kingdom and Canada for assistance.
The ultra-right Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party blocked major roads in Pakistan's biggest cities for three days, calling for the murder of the Supreme Court judges who acquitted Asia Bibi on Wednesday, and terming Prime Minister Imran Khan and the country's army chief enemies of Islam.
The TLP called off the protests late on Friday after striking a deal with the government that could see authorities seek to put Bibi on an 'exit control list' barring her from leaving the country and open a review of the verdict in the courts.
"I am requesting the President of the United States Donald Trump to help us exit from Pakistan," Masih said in a video recorded by the British Pakistani Christian Association and seen by Reuters.
"I also request the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to help us, I also request the Prime Minister of Canada," he said, while also asking for help on behalf of his brother Jospeh Nadeem who has assisted with Bibi's case.
Amid escalating tensions over the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman, for blasphemy, Pakistan's powerful army on Friday said the matter was purely legal, and that the military had nothing to do with it. The rare clarification came after some religious leaders accused the army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, and the three-member Supreme Court bench that acquitted the Christian woman in the blasphemy case on Wednesday, of "orchestrating" the acquittal. Some of them even went so far as to declare the three judges "condemnable to death" and called on generals to revolt against the army chief. "Aasia Bibi's case is a purely legal matter, and it should be disposed of through legal process. Dragging the Pakistan army into every matter is deplorable," Major Gen. Asif Ghafoor, Pakistan army spokesman, said in a brief interview with state-run Pakistan Television. Galeri: Aasia Bibi protests stymie Pakistan for third day"There is no compromise on our love of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him,” Ghafoor continued. “[But] Aasia Bibi's case is a legal issue which was being heard for the last 10 years. We should allow it to be disposed of through the legal process.""Islam commands us to peace, forgiveness, and love. Law and order must be maintained in the country," he said, referring to ongoing protests -- some of them violent -- across the country against the top court's judgment. On Friday, roads remained blocked and educational institutions were shut down for a third day in a row following a call for a nationwide strike from religious parties as talks between the government and protesters faltered late Thursday. Pakistan: Talks falter, more Aasia Bibi protests loomAllama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, firebrand head of the newly emerged Sunni group Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), called on his followers "to get ready for martyrdom." A three-member bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar acquitted Aasia Bibi, who had been sentenced to death by a district court in November 2010 for blaspheming Muhammad.In Pakistan, blaspheming Islam or Muhammad is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty. While the state has never executed anyone under the law, mere allegations have stirred mass protests and violence.
Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittal
Religious groups are calling for nationwide strikes on Friday against the acquittal of a Christian woman on blasphemy charges as talks between the government and protesters faltered late Thursday night.Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, firebrand head of the newly emerged Sunni group Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), announced the failure of talks in a late-night tweet calling on his followers "to get ready for martyrdom.""Our talks with the government have completely failed. There will be a wheel-jam strike in the country on Friday," the wheelchair-bound Hussain, who is leading a sit-in in the capital Islamabad, said in a tweet.Pakistan: Acquittal of Christian woman protestedAccording to Hussain, the government side that held talks with the protesters also included a senior official of the country's prime spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence.However, there was no official word on the failure of talks as otherwise frenzied TV coverage did not air the protests following government orders in an attempt to cool down mounting tensions.On Thursday thousands blocked roads across Pakistan to protest the Supreme Court acquittal of Aasia Bibi, who was sentenced to death by a district court in 2010 for blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad.In Pakistan, blaspheming Islam or Muhammad is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty. While the state has never executed anyone under the law, mere allegations have stirred mass protests and violence.Video: Protest erupts after Pakistani court acquits Christian woman of blasphemy
Pakistan: Talks falter, more Aasia Bibi protests loom
In a protest against the acquittal of Christian woman in a blasphemy case, thousands of people blocked roads across Pakistan on Thursday, police and local media reported.The protests cut off scores of cities and towns from capital Islamabad and provincial capitals, suspending the traffic.Angry mobs of religious activists -- mainly belonging to newly-emerged Sunni group, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) -- staged sit in on key roads in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan, and other major cities.The government shut down all the schools, colleges, and universities in respective cities.Video: Protest erupts after Pakistani court acquits Christian woman of blasphemyThe sit-in at the entrance route of Islamabad suspended the traffic between the capital and Rawalpindi, a garrison city in the northeastern Punjab province, which houses the headquarters of the country’s powerful army.The traffic between Islamabad and Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province also was suspended due to the closure of motorway.The historic Grand Trunk (GT) road, which connects Lahore, the country’s second largest city and the capital of Punjab province, with several cities and towns, including Peshawar, was also blocked at several portions by the infuriated protesters.Thousands of policemen, paramilitary troops, and rangers were deployed across the country in case of any violence.Pakistani premier to pay official visit to ChinaHowever, no major damage to lives or properties was reported across the country so far.On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi who was sentenced to death by a district court in November 2010 for blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad.Bibi is likely to leave the country as her family fears for safety.Blasphemy, against Islam and Prophet Muhammad, is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty in Pakistan. While the state has never executed anyone under the law, mere allegations have stirred mass protests and violence.
Pakistan: Acquittal of Christian woman protested
The U.S. Embassy and British and Canadian High Commissions in Islamabad did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the video.
On Saturday, Bibi's lawyer Saiful Mulook told Reuters he had left Pakistan "to save (my) life from angry mob" and because of fears for the safety of his family.
Bibi was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. She always denied having committed blasphemy.
Her case caught the attention of then Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer who spoke in Bibi's defense before being assassinated by his bodyguard in 2011. The TLP was founded out of a movement to support Taseer's assassin, who was hanged in 2016.
Federal minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti was also killed after calling for her release.
Bibi's whereabouts are unknown, but the TLP has warned the authorities against taking her out of the country.
"There will be a war if they send Asia out of country," TLP leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi said after the deal with the government was reached.
Islamist parties have characterised Bibi's release as Pakistan's government caving into Western demands.
Thousands on Saturday attended the funeral of renowned religious scholar and parliamentarian Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, who was stabbed to death on Friday at his residence in garrison city of Rawalpindi, local media reported.The funeral was held in Akora Khattak, Haq’s native town located some 123 kilometers (76 miles) from capital Islamabad, which was attended by thousands of his students, party activists, politicians and parliamentarians.He was laid to rest in the courtyard of Jamia Haqqania, for which he served as principal for decades.Haq, 82, was stabbed to death by two unknown guests who came to see him at his residence, according to initial investigations.Life back to normal after protests end in PakistanHis guard and servant who were taken into custody by the police for questioning told investigators that the two guests came and desired to see Haq who was resting in his bedroom.Haq, according to the two, sent them to a nearby market to buy some refreshment for the guests. When they returned home, they found Haq lying in a pool of blood, the guard and the servant claimed.The police, according to English daily Dawn, have released the two employees so that they could attend Haq’s funeral indicating that the two could be detained for further questioning.China says more talks needed on economic aid for PakistanHaq, a former senator, was head of a famous religious seminary at Akora Khattak town in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where several Afghan Taliban leaders, including their slain founding leader Mullah Omer, studied. For this reason, he was often referred to as the "Father of Taliban".He was member of the Senate from 1985 to 1991 and again from 1991 to 1997.In the July general election, he aligned with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
Pakistan's slain religious scholar laid to rest
Education institutions, roads and markets reopened on Saturday across the country after the government reached an agreement with religious groups last night, an official said."The protest has been called off after government accepted our demands and signed an agreement with our party" Peer Muhammad Afzal Qadri, Patron in Chief of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan told reporters.The religious groups agreed to call off the protest following government assurances of placing a travel ban on Aasia Bibi and no objection to a review petition against the verdict in the top court.On Wednesday, the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi, a christian women, who had been sentenced to death by a district court in November 2010 for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.Angry protesters, mainly the newly-emerged Sunni group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), blocked roads in the capital Islamabad, and other cities and towns, including Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot, suspending commercial and business activities and paralyzing traffic.Pakistan: Acquittal of Christian woman protestedPakistani premier to pay official visit to ChinaThe government also closed all education institutions across the country due to blocking of roads and violent protests.Intermittent incidents of violence, including burning of vehicles and pelting of security troops with stones were reported in some cities on social media, however, there was no confirmation of the reported violence. News channels did not cover the protests following government orders in an attempt to cool down mounting tensions.However, the agreement signed by government ministers and TLP leaders read that the government has assured the religious groups to released all the people who were arrested by law enforcement agencies during the violent protest in different parts of the country.Bibi has been kept at an undisclosed location for her safety.Her brother James Masih told local English daily Dawn that his sister had no other option but to leave the country soon. France and Spain have already offered asylum to Bibi and her family.Making up 3 percent of a total 210 million population, Christians are one of the two largest minorities in Muslim Pakistan.In Pakistan, blasphemy against Islam or Prophet Muhammad is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty. While the state has never executed anyone under the law, mere allegations have stirred mass protests and violence.Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittalChina promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economyPakistan: Talks falter, more Aasia Bibi protests loom
Life back to normal after protests end in Pakistan
China will provide Pakistan with economic aid but more talks will take place to fix the details, a senior Chinese diplomat said, after new Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday.Pakistan's foreign reserves have plunged 42 percent since the start of the year and now stand at about $8 billion, or less than two months of import cover.Last month, Pakistan received a $6 billion rescue package from Saudi Arabia, but officials say it is not enough and the country still plans to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert a balance of payments crisis.It would be Pakistan's 13th rescue package from the multilateral lender since the late 1980s.Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittalSpeaking to reporters in Beijing's Great Hall of the People following Khan's talks with Li, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said his country would help."During the visit the two sides have made it clear in principle that the Chinese government will provide necessary support and assistance to Pakistan in tiding over the current economic difficulties," Kong said."As for specific measures to be taken, the relevant authorities of the two sides will have detailed discussions," he added, without giving details.Khan told Chinese President Xi Jinping the previous day that he had inherited "a very difficult economic situation" at home.China promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economyThough China is Pakistan's closest ally, Khan's newly elected government has sought to re-think the two countries' signature project, the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Beijing touts as the flagship infrastructure programme in its vast Belt and Road Initiative.Pakistan has looked to amend CPEC to put greater emphasis on projects that focus on social development, rather than purely on infrastructure.Kong said there would be no change in the number of projects under CPEC."There is no change at all. If there were, it would only be to increase, not decrease" the number of projects, he added.However the scope of the project would increase and will tilt in favour of people's livelihoods, Kong said, also without elaborating.After visiting Beijing, Khan is set to be a key note speaker at a major import fair in Shanghai, an event that China hopes will show the world the country welcomes foreign companies and their products. 
China says more talks needed on economic aid for Pakistan