SC suspends death sentence awarded to Aasia Bibi

LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday suspended the death sentence awarded to a Christian woman Aasia Bibi on blasphemy charges and admitted her appeal for regular hearing.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was hearing the appeal against her conviction. The bench remarked it was necessary to examine the case record for administering justice.
The court also took up the objection that the petition was filed 11 days later than the stipulated time after the judgment passed by the Lahore High Court (LHC).Replying to the court’s query, Aasia’s counsel Saif-ul-Malook submitted that he had filed the petition within the stipulated time but the registrar’s office had not accepted it, doubting the certified copy of the LHC judgment. He got another copy of the verdict and filed the petition which caused the delay.
The court asked the counsel to show them the copy which was not accepted by the office and gave him time.After 20 minutes, the counsel appeared before the court and told the bench that his client was in death row and there was no delay on his part in filing the appeal. At this, the court said the objection concerning the delay would be taken up at the time of regular hearing.
The court did not fix any date for hearing; however, it said the operation on LHC judgment, which confirmed her sentence, would remain suspended till a final decision on the appeal.Talking to media persons after the hearing, Aasia’s counsel said it was the first achievement in their client’s case in her favour. He said he would file a formal appeal, hoping that she would be acquitted.He said there were various lacunas in the trial and the prosecution story which would favour the convict.