Pakistan’s top judge has announced he will take up the appeal of a Catholic mother of five children who has been on death row since 2010 for blasphemy.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar told lawyer Saif ul Malook — the chief counsel for Asia Bibi — to prepare for her appeal. “Be ready, Saif ul Malook. I am going to fix your case soon and I myself will preside over the bench,” Nisar told Malook on April 21.
The judge made his comments as the lawyer appeared before the Supreme Court seeking police protection for taking on Bibi’s case after it had been withdrawn by the Punjab police. Nisar ordered the Punjab police to again provide Malook with protection.
Malook said that he had high hopes of Bibi’s conviction being struck down by the Supreme Court.
“Bibi’s family and everyone else who understands her ordeal, are ecstatic at the news that her appeal will be heard soon,” Malook said. Bibi was arrested in 2009 for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad during an argument with Muslim women at an orchard in a small town in Punjab province.
