Following the landmark decision, Bibi will finally be able to join her daughters, who earlier fled to Canada where they have been given asylum. The three-judge Supreme Court panel had “insisted on very strict proofs of blasphemy” and found none, Malook said, expressing hope that Bibi’s acquittal will deter false blasphemy allegations in the future. Pakistan’s blasphemy law is often used to settle scores or intimidate followers of minority religions, including Shiite Muslims. A provincial governor who defended Bibi was shot and killed, as was a government minority minister who dared question the blasphemy law. The cleric petitioning the court for Bibi’s return to death row, Qari Salam, is linked with Rizvi’s party.

Source: National Post January 29, 2019 03:56 UTC