Security loopholes: Aasia still without adequate security, says report

Report compiled by provincial intelligence agency says no extra measures taken to protect Aasia Bibi.

LAHORE: No extra security measures have been taken to protect the life of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death on blasphemy charges and whose life is constantly being threatened by militants and extremist religious elements, a report compiled by a provincial intelligence agency said on Wednesday.

This report was sent to the agency’s provincial headquarters through its regional office.

The severity of threat to the life of Aasia Bibi spiked after the assassination of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, but the provincial government is yet to take effective security measures.

Aasia Bibi is incarcerated in the women’s barrack in Sheikhupura district jail along with 15 or 16 other detainees.

Just one lady warden has been assigned to her inside the jail and five police constables deputed to secure the jail’s perimeter, along with two motorcycle squads assigned to patrol the jail periphery.

The report said that the guards assigned to her “are not vigilant and most of the times they are absent, especially the motorcycle riders”.

Referring to the many loopholes in Aasia Bibi’s security, the intelligence agency pointed out that her husband, Ashiq Masih, is allowed to visit her like “a normal visitor in an ordinary/casual shed, and there are no special security precautions” on ground.

Stressing the need for extra security, the report recommended that Aasia Bibi should be sent to the women’s jail in Multan. It said that there were “better security arrangements which preempts the chance of an attack or any untoward incident”.

Interestingly, the Ministry of Interior had asked the Punjab government to increase security for Aasia Bibi in Sheikhupura Jail.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2011.