Security heightened for Aasia case hearing

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad administration has sought deployment of the paramilitary Rangers in the federal capital on Tuesday (today), as the Supreme Court conducts the hearing of a review petition over acquittal of Aasia Bibi on blasphemy charges.

The deputy commissioner of Islamabad in a letter to the authorities concerned has said that Punjab Rangers should be deployed as part of the efforts to heighten security in Judges Colony, Ministers Enclave and Diplomatic Enclave.

Supreme Court will begin the review of its acquittal of a Christian woman, who spent eight years on death row, following her conviction in a blasphemy case. She was acquitted of the charge, when the Supreme Court accepted her appeal late last year.

A three-judge panel, including new Supreme Court Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, is due to hear the review petition.

Bibi’s lawyer, Saiful Malook, who fled to Europe after her acquittal, told Reuters he expected the case to be dismissed. Malook returned to Pakistan this week to represent Bibi in the court.

Source: The Express Tribune