ISLAMABAD – Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman acquitted in a blasphemycase after spending nine years on death row, is set to fly to Canada whereshe will join her two daughters.
The mother-of-five remained hidden under government protection after theSupreme Court upheld her release earlier this week, but she is expected todepart the country imminently.
“She will fly to Canada very soon to join her daughters who are alreadythere,” her lawyer, Saiful Malooklink,confirmed to Arab News on Wednesday. “Yes, Canada has offered them asylum.”
Following the dismissal of review petition, Asia Bibi was quoted by anotherinternational publication as saying that she wants to hug her daughters,who have already gone to Canada.Asia Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih with his daughters.
Bibi’s daughters left Pakistan in secret and flew to Canada in Decemberearlier this month after accepting an offer of asylum by Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau. Ottawa is a leading contender to give the whole familyasylum.
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Pakistan’s Foreign Office, meanwhile, said Asia Bibi can freely travelanywhere as she has been cleared from all charges of blasphemy from thecountry’s top court.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, comprisingJustice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel had on Tuesdaydismissed the review petition against Asia’s acquittal in blasphemy case“based on merit.
