Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "قضية آسيا بيبي" in Arabic language version.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar read out the ruling saying she was free to go, if not wanted in connection with any other case.
In their final judgment, reviewed by CT, reversing Bibi's convictions by two lower courts and removing her death sentence, the panel of three judges ruled that Bibi was "wrongly" accused by two sisters with the help of a local cleric, based on "material contradictions and inconsistent statements of the witnesses" that "cast a shadow of doubt on the prosecution's version of facts." "Furthermore, the alleged extra-judicial confession was not voluntary but rather resulted out of coercion and undue pressure as the appellant was forcibly brought before the complainant in presence of a gathering, who were threatening to kill her; as such, it cannot be made the basis of a conviction," they wrote. "Therefore, the appellant being innocent deserves acquittal," the judges concluded. One even accused Bibi's accusers of violating a covenant made by Muhammad with Christians in the seventh century but still valid today. "Blasphemy is a serious offense," wrote justice Asif Saeed Khosa, "but the insult of the appellant's religion and religious sensibilities by the complainant party and then mixing truth with falsehood in the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was also not short of being blasphemous.
Islamists launched protests after the country's Supreme Court ruled to acquit Bibi of blasphemy in a widely publicized case.
Radical lsamists mounted rallies against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tyres in protest as they demanded she be executed.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar read out the ruling saying she was free to go, if not wanted in connection with any other case.
Islamists launched protests after the country's Supreme Court ruled to acquit Bibi of blasphemy in a widely publicized case.
Radical lsamists mounted rallies against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tyres in protest as they demanded she be executed.
In their final judgment, reviewed by CT, reversing Bibi's convictions by two lower courts and removing her death sentence, the panel of three judges ruled that Bibi was "wrongly" accused by two sisters with the help of a local cleric, based on "material contradictions and inconsistent statements of the witnesses" that "cast a shadow of doubt on the prosecution's version of facts." "Furthermore, the alleged extra-judicial confession was not voluntary but rather resulted out of coercion and undue pressure as the appellant was forcibly brought before the complainant in presence of a gathering, who were threatening to kill her; as such, it cannot be made the basis of a conviction," they wrote. "Therefore, the appellant being innocent deserves acquittal," the judges concluded. One even accused Bibi's accusers of violating a covenant made by Muhammad with Christians in the seventh century but still valid today. "Blasphemy is a serious offense," wrote justice Asif Saeed Khosa, "but the insult of the appellant's religion and religious sensibilities by the complainant party and then mixing truth with falsehood in the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was also not short of being blasphemous.
