Govt refuses to put Aasia Bibi’s name on no-fly list

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi on Wednesday said that the federal government will uphold the Supreme Court’s verdict that acquitted a Christian woman Aasia Bibi of blasphemy charges, assuring that her name would not be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) until she is proven guilty.

Speaking about the recent countrywide protests following the top court’s verdict acquitting Bibi, Afridi told the Voice of America that among the protesters, there was a group of people who damaged public property for their own personal gains and agenda.

Afridi said that the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leaders, who signed an agreement with the government to end the demonstrations, had distanced themselves from the miscreants.

“When we informed the TLP leaders of the miscreants and showed them TV footage, they refused to accept that those rioters belonged to their party,” he added.

Speaking about the arrests of rioters, Afridi said, “Those arrested will be treated in a legal manner. I assure you there will no compromise on the supremacy of law.”

“It is the prime minister and other officials’ clear stance that there will be no compromise if anyone breaks or challenges the law,” he asserted.

Speaking about the agreement which stated that “due process will be followed immediately to include the name of Aasia Bibi in ECL”, Afridi said, “The government will uphold whatever the Supreme Court decides.”

“If someone cannot be proven guilty then how can we place their name on ECL? There can be no question about that,” the minister of state for interior upheld.

He further said, “All Pakistanis, no matter which religion or school of thought they belong to, are the responsibility of the state. No one can be given the license to play with lives and property.”

“Aasia Bibi and her family is in Pakistan and they are being given security by the government,” he added.

Religio-political parties, particularly TLP, had taken to the streets after the top court had acquitted Aasia Bibi, paralysing daily life in various cities of the country.