Daily Times

Your right to know Friday, April 26, 2024


Asia Bibi’s acquittal: Roads blocked as protests continue across country

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3:40; Islamabad administration warns TLYRA to protest after getting legal permission

The Islamabad district magistrate wrote a letter to Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) leadership and informed that since the government has imposed Section 144 in the capital, the legal assemblies or protests can only be held at the Parade Ground after gaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

The administration warned the leadership that action will be taken against the party if it holds a protest without an NOC.

3:30; PIA urges passengers to arrive earlier to catch their flights

Owing to protests and blocked roads, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) advised the passengers to arrive at the airport a few hours before their flight’s departure time.

According to the PIA spokesperson people traveling domestically should arrive four hours before their flights, while those who were traveling abroad should arrive five hours before the departure time.

Passengers have also been informed to call 786-786-111 before leaving for the airport to confirm the schedule of their flight.

3:00; Opposition leaders term PM Khan’s address ‘aggressive’

The opposition leader termed Imran Khan’s address ‘aggressive’. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah criticized PM’s yesterday address to the Nation and said that the premier’s body language was aggressive.

PMLN leader Saad Rafique agreed with Shah and said that a leader’s attitude should not be ‘so aggressive’.

The Federal Education Minister, Shafqat Mehmood, slammed Khursheed Shah for not criticizing the enraged protestors and for ‘playing politics at this very crucial time.

2:15; Aabpara, Zero Point and IJP Road cleared for traffic: DC Islamabad

Aabpara, Zero Point and IJP Road have been cleared for traffic in Islamabad, the capital’s deputy commissioner informed via a tweet.

2:00; How can court punish someone who is not found guilty of the charges?: CJP

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said, “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but how can the court punish someone if there is no proof against them.

Referring to the 56-page judgment on Asia Bibi case, Justice Nisar stated, “We started the judgment with the Kalma and constantly referred to the Holy Quran.”

“We uphold the Finality of the Prophethood and without it our faith is not complete,” he added.

1:20; PM Imran and COAS meet to discuss the current situation, says Fawad Chaudhry

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa held a meeting late last night to discuss “the overall situation in the country and other important issues”, the Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry apprised via a tweet.

1:00: PM chairs an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet

According to the sources, the current situation in the country after Asia Bibi’s acquittal verdict is also expected to be discussed

12:55; Mobile signals have reportedly suspended in certain areas of Lahore

Residents took to Twitter to share that the mobile signals have been suspended in some areas of the city. Hashtag Lhralert is trending on Twitter for recent updates about the situation of protest in the city.

12:40; Asia Bibi’s lawyer is facing threats

The lawyer who represented Asia Bibi, Saiful Mulook, said that he is facing threats, AFP reported.

“I think I have absolutely no safety,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.

Despite all the threats against him, Mulook said he regrets nothing and will continue his legal fight against intolerance.

He further said, “I think it’s better to die as a brave and strong man than to die as a mouse and fearful person — I extend my legal help to all people.”

12:30; A recent footage of police trying to control enraged protestors.

12:20; Owing to the protests, five major roads are still blocked in Lahore. The roads include Charing Cross (Mall Road), Data Darbar and Shahdara Chowk, Askari X and Bhatta Chowk. Roads from Askari X and Bhatta Chowk to the Allama Iqbal International Airport have also been blocked leading to difficulties for passengers.

12:15: 15 major roads are still blocked in Karachi. The roads include, Teen Talwar, Star Gate at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Numaish, Liaquatabad No 10, Sohrab Goth, Korangi No 5, Bara Board, Baldia No 4, Ranchor Line, Shoe Market, and New Karachi

The Supreme Court Wednesday overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother facing execution for blasphemy.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, with Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel its members, had reserved its ruling on Asia Bibi’s final legal appeal against execution on October 8.

“The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgment of the high court, as well as the trial court, is reversed. Her conviction is set aside,” the chief justice said while announcing the verdict to a packed courtroom. “She is to be released forthwith if not required in any other case,” he added.

The 56-page detailed judgment was authored by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, with a separate concurrent opinion note from Justice Khosa.

“It is a well-settled principle of law that one who makes an assertion has to prove it. Thus, the onus rests on the prosecution to prove guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt throughout the trial,” the order noted. “Presumption of innocence remains throughout the case until such time the prosecution on the evidence satisfies the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence alleged against him,” it added.

“Keeping in mind the evidence produced by the prosecution against the alleged blasphemy committed by the appellant, the prosecution has categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” the verdict concluded. “It is not for the individuals, or a gathering (mob), to decide as to whether any act falling within the purview of Section 295-C has been committed or not, because as stated earlier, it is the mandate of the court to make such decision after conducting a fully qualified trial and on the basis of credible evidence brought before it,” it maintained.

“Blasphemy is a serious offence but the insult of the appellant’s religion and religious sensibilities by the complainant party and then mixing truth with falsehood in the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was also not short of being blasphemous,” Justice Khosa said in his note.

Asia Bibi appeared to be in a state of disbelief after hearing that the apex court had quashed her conviction nearly eight years after she was first sentenced to death. “I can’t believe what I am hearing, will I go out now? Will they let me out, really?” she said by phone from prison after the ruling. “I just don’t know what to say, I am very happy, I can’t believe it.” “The verdict has shown that the poor, the minorities and the lowest segments of society can get justice in this country despite its shortcomings,” Bibi’s lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook said. “This is the biggest and happiest day of my life,” he added.

“Pakistan Zindabad,” assassinated Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s son Shahbaz Taseer tweeted following the ruling.

Taseer was assassinated by his own police guard for advocating for Bibi in 2011. His assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, was later executed in 2016.

As soon as the Asia Bibi’s acquittal reports came out, members of religious parties started protesting. Major roads in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Islamabad were blocked.

However, most of the routes that were closed a day earlier in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have now been opened for traffic and some are still blocked.

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