Pakistani Christian Mother-of-Five's Trial "suddenly cancelled"—She Remains on 'death row' for Alleged Blasphemy

Dan Wooding : Mar 24, 2014
Assist News Service

Gill… asked for Christians around the world to "to pray for wisdom, resources and courage [for his legal team] to deal [with] and give legal assistance in these sensitive cases."

(Lahore, PAKISTAN)—Following the shock news that Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian mother of five, had suffered yet another setback, and remains on "death row" in an isolation cell at the women's prison in Sheikhupura, Punjab, a Pakistani human rights defender has stepped forward to say that he and his organization plan to do all they can to help free Ms. Bibi. (Photo via ANS)

Asia Bibi's appeal hearing was set for Monday, March 17, 2014, but was then suddenly been postponed "to a later date".

The hearing was cancelled at the last moment at the Lahore High Court due to the absence of one of the two presiding judges. Under Pakistani law, two judges have to be present in death penalty cases for the entire trial.

Now, Advocate, Sardar Mushtaq Gill, a Human Rights Defender, and Chief of Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD), has stepped forward to pledge the full support of his organization in working towards her freedom.

In a message to the ASSIST News Service, he said that during a meeting of LEAD's legal panel was decided to play a key role in trying to secure the acquittal of Asia Bibi, who was arrested in 2009 on charges of insulting Muhammad. In 2010, she was sentenced to death under the country's "black law'". Since then, she has been waiting for her appeal to be heard. (Photo via ANS)

The High Court in Lahore, where the appeal will eventually be heard, will have to decide whether the Christian woman committed a crime, namely drank a glass of water from a well owned by a Muslim.

As a result of this act, she was accused "of contaminating" the well, which was followed by a row with fellow workers and eventually the indictment for "insulting Muhammad."

Gill, in his message, said that, "LEAD is only legal aid Christian faith based organization which is not funded by any international organization. So, if any individual or organization, wish to be our partner in this noble cause to defend the defenseless [including Asia Bibi] and [other] members of the persecuted Church in reality, and with true vision and mission in Pakistan, we at LEAD will welcome them."

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