Aasia Bibi blasphemy case: SC announces the historic verdict
Roads blocked, no phone service as protests against Asia Bibi’s acquittal continue
LAHORE – Country-wide protests being held by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) against entered the third day on Friday, grinding major cities to the standstill.
The religious party, which is headed by Khadim Hussain Rizvi, took to the streets since the supreme court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian woman facing death sentence over blasphemy charges.
Situation in Lahore
Major areas, including Charing Cross at the Mall Road, Data Darbar, Shahdara Chowk, Bhatta Chowk, Askar X, roads connecting to the Lahore airport and others are blocked for traffic.
Protests against the court ruling continued through the night while the mobile phone service is partially suspended in the city.
#Lahore & #Islamabad
08h15 update
protests continued through the night and reports indicate phone networks are shutting down as per announced plan of 8AM till 7/8PM#isbalerts #LHRalerts
08h20 update
TRAFFIC BLOCKADES#LAHORE
Charing Cross at 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 #LHRalerts
Karachi
Agitators have also refused to budge in Karachi, the economic hub of Pakistan, as different roads are also blocked by the protesters.
The areas where protests are continued include Teen Talwar, Star Gate at Sh-e-Faisal, Numaish, Liaquatabad 10, Sohrab Goth, Korangi 5, Bara Board, Baldia 4, Ranchor Line, Shoe Market New Karachi, Hub River Road, Maripur Rd, Orangi Town 5, Power House Nagan Chowrangi, Teen Hatti and MT Khan Rd.
Meanwhile, Sindh Rangers director general has warned of action if the protesters cross the limits.
ISLAMABAD and Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Faizabad Interchange, Dhoke Kala Khan, Tramri Chowk and Karal Chowk routes leading to Taxila, Gujar Khan and Pir Sohawa among the different areas closed by the protersts in the twin cities.
Motorways
M1 from Islamabad to Peshawar and M2 from Islamabad to Lahore is closed for traffic.
Mobile Phone Service Suspended
Mobile phone services have been suspended in the federal capital and three cities of Punjab today.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that mobile phone services in “Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Gujranwala would be blocked today 8am till Maghrib”.
Talks Failed
An official team comprising PTI minister held talks with the TLP protester but the government could not woo the protester to end the agitation peacefully.
A Twitter hand associated with TLP chief Rizvi claimed that the talks with the government have completely failed.
The statement further added that they will not bow done and there will be launched a completed shutter down strike across the country on Friday.
Educational Institutions To Remain Closed
All education institution will remain closed in Punjab and Sindh as the chaos reigns the country. However, the education activities in Balochistan will continue as per routine. In KP, the private institutes will also remained closed.
Pakistan closes all educational institutions as violent protests continue
LAHORE – All the educational institutions will remain closed tomorrow (Friday) owing to the law and order situation in the country.
On Thursday, the Punjab School Education ordered all the institutes to stay closed. Tahir Rafiq, the spokesperson for Education Ministery, confirmed the development to the media.
The decision to close schools comes as protests broke out in several cities of Pakistan against the acquittal of Asia Bibi.
Separately, all Pakistan Private Schools Association also announced that schools would remain closed tomorrow.
Similarly, the Balochistan government announced a holiday in schools, colleges and universities across the southern province.
Several private schools in Karachi sent text messages to parents, requesting them not to send the pupils.
Meanwhile, the All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Association announced a holiday tomorrow. However, according to CM Adviser on Education Ziaullah Bangash, the public schools will remain open.
Educational institutes to remain closed in Punjab amid TLP protests
- In Sindh and KP, private institutes will remain closed today.
- All public and private institutes will open as per schedulte in Balochistan.
LAHORE – Due to traffic disruption and law and order situation in the country following the Asia Bibi case verdict, all educational institutes are closed in Punjab today.
A spokesperson of the provincial government on Wednesday confirmed that all institutes will remain closed due to the prevailing situation, adding that the intermediate exams scheduled to be held on Thursday have also been postponed while a new date will be issued later.
The School Education Department has also announced a holiday, while the University of Engineering has deferred the exams that were conducted today.
However, there is no holiday announced by the provincial governments in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Meanwhile, the All Private School Management Association Sindh has declared today a holiday, citing the prevailing law and order situation in the country.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, only the private schools and colleges will remain closed, while all public education institutes will remain open in Balochistan as per their usual schedule.
Section 144 has been imposed in Sindh for 10 days, banning pillion-riding, rallies and meetings, and gatherings of more than four people.
A fresh wave of protests by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan has prompted snarl-ups across various cities of the country as multiple thoroughfares have been blocked by the demonstrators.
Scores of TLP leaders sprung into action on Wednesday after the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, convicted of blasphemy.
Scores of TLP leaders sprung into action on Wednesday after the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, convicted of blasphemy.
Aasia Bibi blasphemy case: SC announces the historic verdict
In June 2009, Noreen was involved in an argument with a group of Muslim women with whom she had been harvesting berries after the other women objected to a non-Muslim touching the bowl in which she fetched water. She was subsequently accused of insulting the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), a charge she denies; she was arrested and imprisoned. In November 2010, a Sheikhupura judge sentenced her to death by hanging. If executed, Noreen would have been the first woman in Pakistan to be killed for blasphemy under the current law.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday has announced the verdict in the Aasia Bibi blasphemy case.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday has announced the verdict in the Aasia Bibi blasphemy case.
SC acquitted Aasia Bibi , a Christian woman condemned to death on blasphemy charges after accepting her 2015 appeal against her sentence.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, heading the three-member bench comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, read the 56-page verdict and announced the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict was set aside and directed authorities to release Aasia Bibi from prison.
“The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgement of the high court, as well as the trial court, is reversed. Her conviction is set aside,” Justice Khosa added a separate opinion in the verdict.
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