SC issues detailed verdict in Aasia Bibi acquittal case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a detailed verdict in the Aasia Bibi acquittal case, reported ARY News.

“Since there are no new evidence in the review petition, therefore it is rejected,” read the verdict.

The court ruling said the petitioner had requested to form a larger bench but there was no such need for it.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel had rejected the appeal after hearing arguments from the appellant’s lawyer.

Read More: SC upholds Aasia Bibi acquittal

“The appellant failed to prove flaws in the announced judgment,” the chief justice had ruled. “There were clear contradictions in evidences and depositions.”

Justice Khosa had also noted that the witnesses were oblivious to the real facts of the incident and made misstatements in court.

Case history

Last year, on Oct 31, a SC bench headed by former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar had set aside the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy. The 56-page verdict overturned the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict and directed authorities to release her from prison.

Following her acquittal, protests had erupted across the country which continued for three days before being brought to an end with an agreement between the government and demonstrators.

Aasia Bibi, a mother of five, had been on death row since 2010 after she was convicted on charges of committing blasphemy during an argument with three Muslim women in Sheikhupura.

Her case drew the attention of international rights groups and swiftly became the most high-profile in the country.