Law and order situation across the country ‘in control’: Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Insisting that the law and order situation across in the country is in control, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry says patience shown by the government should not be misconstrued as its weakness.

In a statement on early Friday, the minister said implementation on constitution and law was in favour of the public. ‘We will fulfill this responsibility,’ he reiterated.

Mr. Chaudhry said the prime minister was being briefed on minute-by-minute situation happening in the country. The plot to disrupt important China visit of the PM will fail in the end, said the minister.

In a important move, the federal government on Thursday(Nov 1) decided to deal with the crisis, arising out of Asia Bibi’s acquittal in blasphemy case, in a peaceful manner.

PM Khan also formed a committee comprising state minister for interior, information minister and foreign minister to look into the matter and devise a strategy to defuse the ongoing political tension.

Sources told ARY News that Prime Minister Imran Khan, during the federal cabinet meeting, issued instructions to governors of all four provinces and party leaders to play their role in resolving the crisis.

He also directed ministers to expedite contacts with religious leaders for earliest resolution of the matter.

‘We cannot allow anyone to do politics on sensitive issues,” the PM told the meeting.

He called upon the ministers to also take into confidence other parliamentary leaders to maintain peace across the country.

During his address to the nation a day ago (Oct 31), PM Khan had said the Supreme Court decision in Asia Bibi case was in line with the Constitution.

Asia Bibi case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy. This verdict came on an appeal filed by the woman challenging her capital punishment.

Asia Bibi, a mother of five, had been on death row since 2010, when Pope Benedict XVI joined in international calls for her release.

In 2015 her daughter met with Pope Francis, who as the head of the Catholic Church offered prayers for her mother.

Ms Bibi was arrested in 2009 after three women went to a local cleric in Sheikhupura, to report her and the trial court convicted and sentenced her to death.

She appealed to the Lahore High Court, which upheld the decision in October 2014, with the case ending up at the Supreme Court.