Asia Bibi lawyer returns to Pakistan to aid in her appeal

THE HAGUE: The lawyer of Asia Bibi, who was acquitted of blasphemy, Saturday jetted out of the Netherlands to "hopefully assist his client for the last time" in a Pakistani court hearing, a Dutch MP said.

Saif-ul-Malook fled to the Netherlands from Pakistan in November last year after violent protests erupted over the Supreme Court´s decision to overturn the conviction of Asia Bibi, who was on death row.

The Supreme Court will decide on Tuesday whether to allow an appeal against Bibi´s acquittal, lawyers in the case have said.

Christian Union party parliamentarian Joel Voordewind tweeted a picture of himself and Malook saying "this afternoon (Saturday) I escorted Asia Bibi´s lawyer, Mr Malook to Schiphol airport."

"He´s going back to Pakistan to hopefully represent Asia for the last time in her case," Voordewind said.

The Netherlands last year granted Malook a temporary stay, but Voordewind said Malook will "unfortunately lose his asylum status in the Netherlands."