Acquittal of blasphemy convict sparks massive protests across Pakistan

Demonstrations have broken out in major cities across Pakistan after the country’s top court overturned the conviction of a Christian woman facing execution for blasphemy in a landmark case.

Approximately a thousand club-wielding demonstrators blocked  Islamabad's main highway as several roads in the southern port city of Karachi were barricaded by protesters on Wednesday.

Demonstrations against the verdict are being held in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan. Clashes with police have been reported.

The Red Zone in the capital Islamabad, where the Supreme Court is located, has been sealed off by police, and paramilitary forces have been deployed to keep protesters away from the court.

Streets were blocked in major cities as protesters condemned the ruling, paralyzing parts of Islamabad, Lahore and other cities.

Pakistan's Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, the 47-year-old mother of four, facing execution for blasphemy.

"The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgement of high court as well as trial court is reversed. Her conviction is set aside," said Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in the ruling.

"Tolerance is the basic principle of Islam," the top judge read out, noting that the religion condemns injustice and oppression.

The judge said the prosecution had "categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt".

"Keeping in mind the evidence produced by the prosecution against the alleged blasphemy committed by the appellant, the prosecution has categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt," concluded the chief justice.

The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi  had with a group of women in June 2009.

Shortly after her conviction a prominent politician, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, was murdered in 2011 for speaking out in her support and calling for the blasphemy laws to be reformed. Federal minister for religion Shahbaz Bhatti was also killed after calling for her release.

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan have raised concerns among rights activists and some liberal politicians like late Taseer, who say it is often exploited by extremists or those who want to settle personal scores.

Critics say hundreds of people languish in jails under false blasphemy charges. In most cases, even unproven allegations frequently stir mob violence and bloodshed.

Hundreds of cases of criminal blasphemy are filed across Pakistan each year. Dozens of people, including lawyers, defendants and judges, have been murdered in Pakistan over blasphemy allegations since 1990.

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