Pakistan

LHC stalls pardon moves for Aasia Bibi

CJ orders provincial governor, federal government to respond to petition.

Rana Tanveer November 30, 2010

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Monday directed President Asif Ali Zardari and the governor of Punjab to abstain from making any move to pardon blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi till December 6, the next date of hearing of petition on the matter.

Although the president was not made a direct party among the respondents, the chief justice categorically issued directions to the president saying, “…no action shall be taken either by the president of Pakistan or anybody working under the authority of the functionaries performing duties under supervision of the governor of the Punjab.”

The judge also issued notice to the federal government through a deputy attorney general, as well as the chief secretary Punjab and personal secretary to the Punjab governor through an additional advocate general directing them to send their comments through fax on or before December 6.

The judge issued the order in a petition seeking direction for the federal government and provincial government to abstain from making any move to get Aasia pardoned.

The petition was filed by Ch Shahid Iqbal challenging the alleged move of Punjab governor to get blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi pardoned.

The petitioner said that the federal government should be directed not to take any decision upon the appeal of Aasia submitted at the behest of the provincial governor, adding that the federal government should be directed to remove the governor from his office for allegedly being ‘non-ineligible’ for this office.

He further said that proceedings carried out by the government of Punjab as well as the governor and federal law ministry for getting Aasia Bibi pardoned of the blasphemy charges should be declared illegal, unlawful and without lawful authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2010.

COMMENTS (9)

Dawood Nusrani | 13 years ago | Reply I understand that terrorists, jihadis and millitants are un-wise friends of Islam. They do not understand what damadge they are doing to islam and muslims in the world. Because they can not do any thing good they just try to secure place in heaven by klling innocent people as they have been tought.

Hasan Z. | 13 years ago | Reply Lets talk sense people .... Over exaggerated Lady Aasia issue is just another excuse the present Government needed to redo the blasphemy law. Its nothing to do with any Maulvi / bearded guy ..... majority of teh people talking on the issue are the people who if one Google can find how much they are with the National Policy makers including our Government and the friendly foreign Governments (read USA, UAE, Saudi, UK) who have interest in our land. Governments often need an event to divert attention of the public and media as well as to use it to bring changes ... previous examples: 1) Jawed Iqbal (man who killed 100+ kids in Lahore) during Musharraf's time 2) Zaid Hamid (self sponsored analyst with hot issues & chicks) .... and last but not the least ... 3) NGO sponsored fake Taliban canning video to overturn the Swat peace deal with TNSM. Also keep in mind that there is NOT A SINGLE hanging / death punishment in present Government;s tenure ... due to their Master's wish. Not only she will be pardoned but will be out and with her family.

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murtaza | 13 years ago | Reply If our president give safe passage to AASIA bibi then we should demand safe passage of aafia siddiqui. We are ready to give safe passage to AASIA BIBI but will US give safe passage to our daughter??

usman | 13 years ago | Reply @ babar: the courts have not gone jihadi, its a requirement of law that no one can be pardoned unless judgment has reached finality, which it cant without high courts ruling. as a society we jump to conclusions too soon. blasphemy law is bad, it must be abolished, but that doesn't give us the license to criticize the courts based on news.

Babar | 13 years ago | Reply The courts are gone Jihadi

Liaquat Ali | 13 years ago | Reply The lynching mob in Pakistan, especially in Punjab, is out of control. Mass psychological treatment camps are needed for them. Aasia Bibi and her whole family should be allowed safe passage out of the country. The blasphemy laws must be repealed.

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply Who will be responsible if she is killed as has been witnessed in all these cases in the past ? What has higher courts done in the past, specially Punjab High Court. In the recent past nothing was done against those who burnt the churches, burnt their Holy Books and killed innocent minorities at their will. Mob justice is only which all have seen. Lingering on this case will only prove more lethal for Asia Bibi. Blood Thirsty people want her dead because only this is the way to quell their thirst. What a lynching province.

ABDUL NASIR | 13 years ago | Reply UNFORTUNATELY COURTS IN PAKISTAN ARE HABITUAL OF GIVING RELIEF/stay Orders IN VARIOUS MATTERS, on the petitions filed by irrelevant persons. This causes in-ordinate delay in disposal of cases & it comes impossible to meet ends of justice as justice delayed is justice denied.

M M Malik | 13 years ago | Reply The Quran and the authentic traditions of the Holy Prophet (saw) have no punishment for blasphemy. Allah curses the blasphemers and say that he has prepared a punishment for them in the hereafter. How misunderstood is Islam today in Pakistan.

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