Armed Forces Deployed in Pakistani Cities to Counter Protesters Over Christian Woman’s ‘Blasphemy’ Case
A decision by Pakistan’s Supreme Court to release a Christian woman who had been imprisoned on charges of “blasphemy” against Islam has sparked anger and protests from Islamist groups in the country, forcing the government to deploy armed forces to confront the demonstrators.
According to Reuters news agency, thousands of protesters, mostly affiliated with an Islamist party called “Tehrik-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah,” have blocked roads in Islamabad and other major cities and resorted to looting state property.
Pakistan’s law enforcement forces have now formed cordons around the country’s parliament and judicial buildings to prevent attacks by protesters.
Protesters supporting the “Tehrik-i-Labbaik” party have also thrown stones at police in the city of Lahore and demanded the removal of Imran Khan, the country’s new prime minister.
Asia Bibi, a Christian citizen and mother of four children, who has now been released by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, had been imprisoned since 2010 awaiting execution by hanging.
The reason for her imprisonment was that her Muslim neighbors, who consider her “impure” according to Islamic law, objected to Asia Bibi drinking water from one of their glasses, and these neighbors claimed that Asia insulted Islam in response to their objection—an accusation that Asia Bibi denies.
Reports indicate that Qazi Thaqib Nasir, the prosecutor who issued the order for Asia’s release, along with two other judges in the case, have now been written death threats by the leader of the “Tehrik-i-Labbaik” party.
The “Tehrik-i-Labbaik” party was founded when a group of Islamists came together in support of the killer of Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Lahore.
Salmaan Taseer had defended Asia Bibi’s release on a television program, and for doing so, one of his guards shot him dead near his home with 27 rounds from an AK-47 rifle.
“Tehrik-i-Labbaik” in November, after the government made a minor change to the text of one of the religious oaths, created a major crisis for Islamabad by blocking roads, with seven people killed and over 200 injured in clashes with police.
Source: Radio Farda
