Aasia Bibi's lawyer returns home to fight her case

Saiful Malook had fled to the Netherlands after receiving death threats in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Aasia Bibi's lawyer Saiful Malook on Sunday returned to Pakistan and is set to attend the hearing on January 29 (Tuesday) of the review petition against the Christian woman's acquittal on blasphemy charges.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Malook confirmed that he had arrived in Lahore and would attend the top court's hearing.

"I want to make it clear that I intend to permanently stay in Pakistan but there are still security concerns," he said.

Malook also appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide him security in view of the threats he had received.



"In the Netherlands, I fought Pakistan's case," he said, adding that, he also tried to remove surrounding the country's position in the case.

It is to be noted that German news outlet DW had claimed that instead of supporting the Christian woman's case, Malook was defending Islamabad's stance.

At a news conference in The Hague last year, Malook had said he was “put on a plane against his wishes”.

Aasia was accused of blasphemy in 2010 and subsequently sentenced to death by the Lahore High Court.

However, on October 30, 2018, she was acquitted of the charges by the Supreme Court.

In the wake of the apex court’s decision, politico-religious parties began a campaign, which was spearheaded by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, to have the top court’s decision overturned.

Nationwide protests took place for three days, which saw mass rioting in which protesters caused damage to public and private property last year.