ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's president may pardon a Christian woman facing a death sentence for blasphemy against Islam, officials said Saturday, as the mother of four tearfully denied the charge in interviews.
The case of Asia Bibi has drawn appeals from Pope Benedict XVI and human rights groups to free her. She was sentenced to death earlier this month.
Bibi appeared in a televised interview at her prison Saturday, protesting her innocence to reporters and maintaining the case stemmed from a personal dispute.
“It was just the outcome of a rivalry. I would never even think of blasphemy,” she said weeping. “I have small children. For God's sake, please set me free.”
The verdict has drawn attention to Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which critics say are used to persecute Christian and other minorities and fan extremism. They are also often exploited to settle personal scores.
Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for minority affairs, said Saturday that President Asif Ali Zardari has asked for a report on the case and has the power to pardon Bibi.
“The president has taken notice of this case ... he is concerned on this issue,” Bhatti said, adding that Zardari has the power to pardon her even ahead of the court appeal.
Gov. Salman Taseer of Punjab province, where Bibi is held, told reporters in a televised conference he believes Zardari will soon pardon her.
“I am going to take this petition to president and he will forgive her,” he said.
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE
International human rights advocate Amnesty International has joined calls for the release of Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi who has been sentenced to death under the country’s blasphemy laws.
Amnesty International on Friday also called on Pakistan to revise the law under which Bibi was convicted this month.
The case stems from a dispute between Bibi and a group of Muslim women over the use of a water bowl. The other women accused her of making derogatory remarks against the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). She has been in prison for one-and-a-half years and her case has been appealed. -Agencies
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