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.
We respect Aasia Bibi’s legal rights, Qureshi tells Canadian FM
We respect Aasia Bibi’s legal rights, Qureshi tells Canadian FM
- TLP workers threaten to stir up protests if Christian woman is allowed to leave Pakistan
- Case gained global traction after she was placed on death row in a blasphemy case
Pakistan president to visit UAE today to review trade, economic, defense ties
- President Asif Ali Zardari will lead a high-level delegation to the UAE from Jan. 26-29, says Pakistan’s FO
- Says Zardari to also discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest with UAE officials during visit
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will undertake an official four-day visit to the UAE today, Monday, to review bilateral ties between the two nations, particularly in the spheres of trade, economic partnership and security, Pakistan’s foreign office said.
Zardari will lead a high-level delegation to the UAE from Jan. 26-29, the foreign office said, during which he will also hold discussions with UAE officials on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
“During the visit, the president will hold high-level meetings with the UAE’s leadership to review the full spectrum of bilateral ties, especially in the domains of trade and economic partnership, defense and security, and people-to-people ties,” the statement said.
Zardari’s visit takes place after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Pakistan on his first official visit to the country late last month.
Pakistan and the UAE share close economic relations, with Abu Dhabi having provided critical support to Islamabad during its periods of financial stress. This support included deposits at Pakistan’s central bank that helped Islamabad shore up foreign exchange reserves amid a severe balance-of-payments crunch.
The Gulf nation is also Islamabad’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.
Both nations have moved closer in recent months, signing agreements worth billions of dollars as Pakistan eyes greater trade and economic ties with Gulf states.
In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure sectors.
The UAE is also a major source of foreign investment in Pakistan, which has been valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry.
