We respect Aasia Bibi’s legal rights, Qureshi tells Canadian FM

ISLAMABAD: During a telephone conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan completely respects Aasia Bibi’s legal rights and would ensure that she was extended the same, a statement released by the Foreign Ministry read on Tuesday.
“Canadian FM telephoned FM Qureshi yesterday. Among other issues, Aasia Bibi was discussed. Canadian FM appreciated the Supreme Court’s courageous decision and PM’s positive speech,” Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Foreign Ministry spokesperson posted on social media on Tuesday.
He added that Qureshi informed Freeland that “Aasia Bibi is our national [citizen] and Pakistan fully respects her legal rights”.
Bibi, 51, is a Christian woman whose case gained international attention after she was placed on death row in 2010. This was after a lower court found her guilty of committing blasphemy. However, citing a lack of credible evidence in the case, the Supreme Court (SC) overturned the ruling on October 31, acquitting Bibi of all charges. The decision led to massive protests across the country, spearheaded by a far-right religious party, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), who set several conditions for calling off the protests. Prime among these was that the SC overturns its verdict and places Bibi on the country’s Exit Control List.
The TLP party reiterated on Tuesday that it strictly opposed her release while threatening to stir up protests if Bibi was permitted to leave the country. “It is a stance of the millions of Pakistani Muslims,” TLP spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Bibi’s husband has appealed to Britain, Canada, and the United States to grant her a safe passage out of Pakistan, claiming that her life was in danger as long as she continued to live in the country. Last week, Bibi’s lawyer, Saiful Mulook, flew to the Netherlands fearing for his life.
While the government has indicated to protesters that it will bar Bibi from traveling abroad, international talks suggest otherwise. In an interview with Agence France Presse, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that talks were underway with Pakistan in this regard. “We are in discussions with the Pakistani government,” Trudeau said, adding that, “There is a delicate domestic context that we respect which is why I don’t want to say any more about that, but I will remind people Canada is a welcoming country,” he added.