Security concerns: Aasia to be moved to women-only jail

Transfer to take place due to heavy security concerns.

LAHORE: The Punjab government is likely to shift Aasia Bibi, convicted under blasphemy laws, to an all-women jail in Multan because of security concerns.

The transfer will take place at nighttime under heavy security within the next seven days.  She is currently incarcerated in Sheikhupura district jail.

Aasia Bibi, a 45-year-old Christian woman and a mother of five, was sentenced to death by an additional district and sessions judge in Sheikhupura on November 9 for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the Holy Prophet (pbuh). The incident took place on June 14, 2009, while the FIR was registered under 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code in the Saddar Police Station of Nankana Sahib town on June 19 of the same year. Aasia’s children are: Aseem, Imran, Sidra, Esha and Esham.

In Sheikhupura, there were fears that she could be hurt by male prisoners but in a women-only jail, she would be safe, a jail department official said.

The Punjab home department would direct Inspector General of Police to provide heavy security for the transfer, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2011.