The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) lauded Pakistan’s Supreme Court for acquitting Asia Bibi, convicted and sentenced to death in 2010 on charges of committing blasphemy. The apex court overturned the death sentence on October 31 in a historic ruling.
As reported by mattersindia.com, CCA general secretary of CCA Reverend Mathews George Chunakara remarked that “The reversal of the judgment of the high court, as well as trial court and setting aside Bibi’s conviction in a ruling by Pakistan’s Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, is laudable. It is credible that despite extremist Islamist groups and mobs clamoring for Asia Bibi’s death sentence, the Supreme Court stood firm on its decision based on facts, not misguided emotions and insinuations, to overturn the blasphemy conviction and the death sentence.”
The CCA General Secretary appreciated the bold steps taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan who addressed the issue directly and unambiguously as well as strongly defended the decision of the Supreme Court. The allegations against Bibi date back to 2009, when Muslim field laborers working alongside refused to share water with her because she was Christian. Bibi was subsequently convicted and sentenced to death in 2010, despite her advocates maintaining her innocence and insisting the argument was a personal dispute. CCA urges authorities in Pakistan to ensure the security of the acquitted along with her family as well as the lawyers who have been consistently arguing her case in courts.
Source: www.mattersindia.com
