Supreme Court acquits Asia Bibi in blasphemy case

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian woman condemned to death on blasphemy charges after accepting her 2015 appeal against her sentence.

“The judgement of the high court and that of the trial court is reversed,” Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said, reading out the verdict. He added that Asia Bibi should be set free if she is not wanted in any other case.

“Her conviction is set aside and she is to be relieved forthwith if not required in other charges,” the judgement read.

A detailed judgement is expected in the next few hours.

According to a supplementary cause list issued by the SC on Monday, the verdict was scheduled to be announced by a special bench at 9am. The bench comprises CJP Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel.

The apex court had reserved its ruling on Bibi’s final legal appeal against execution (Asia Bibi v. The State, etc) on October 8. The appeal challenges the Lahore High Court’s October 2014 verdict of upholding a trial court’s November 2010 decision of sentencing Bibi to death for committing blasphemy.