*ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is returning home to adeepening political crisis, with pressure mounting over a deal struck withthe religious group that analysts say has eroded faith in his government.*
PM Khan spent the last four days on a state visit to China, trying to winsome desperately needed relief for his country’s parlous finances, as hishomeland fractured over the fate of Aasia Bibi — a Christian woman clearedof blasphemy charges last week by the Supreme Court.
The overturning of her conviction, which Pakistan’s top judges ruled wasbased on flimsy evidence, ended Bibi’s eight year ordeal on death row.
But it enraged religious groups who took to the streets, blockaded majorcities and demanded her immediate execution.
The protests were only brought to an end once the PTI government agreed toa deal with the protesters, where Bibi would remain in Pakistan while afinal review of the Supreme Court’s ruling takes place.
Many critics saw the climbdown as another capitulation to religious groupswho called for the assassination of the country’s Supreme Court justicesand mutiny against the army’s top brass in the ruling’s wake.
“The government seems to be directionless and it does not seem to have aproper strategy,” said analyst Fasi Zaka.
“The government has just bought time and we’re still waiting to see whatthey do.”
*– Praise dissipates –*
Only a few days earlier, PM Khan had been riding a wave of positive energy.
Shortly before his departure for China he delivered a speech vowing toconfront the protesters head on, winning widespread praise from thosedetractors who had long accused him of courting religious groups and fordefending the blasphemy laws. – APP/AFP