ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has clarified on its official Twitter account Thursday the “federal government has no plan to put Asia Bibi’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) or appeal for a review against the court’s verdict.”
It further said, “a review petition is been filed by the concerned party which has nothing to do with the government.”
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1058000228081528832
Earlier, the Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet hinted to file a review petition as per protesters’ demand.
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1057996294466224128
Fawad Chaudhry reiterated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for calm as protests against the Supreme Court verdict that overturned the death sentence of Asia Bibi, entered the second day.
The minister appealed to the agitators to end the protests, urging them not to harm public properties and lives. He said violence was never an option but stressed the government would have to “use tough measures if the state’s writ is at stake.”
“By no means, we want to resort to violence but have to reconsider our options if the state’s writ is at stake. They (protesters) should clear their misconceptions about the state and army,” he added.
The minister hailed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance against the demonstrators, saying the latter represented his country during his address to the nation.
“The constitution is in line with the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah, and the verdict given by the Supreme Court is in accordance with the constitution,” he said.
Chaudhry also welcomed opposition’s stance on the issue and said his meetings with Bilawal Bhutto and Shehbaz Sharif were “promising developments”.
“Opposition has appointed two focal persons. We will try to come up with a joint strategy in order to tackle the protests,” he added.
Moreover, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari also took to Twitter to explain the government’s position.
https://twitter.com/ShireenMazari1/status/1057999590937542657
Meanwhile, protesters on Thursday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict that overturned the death sentence of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was convicted for blasphemy in 2010.
The peition, filed in the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry, argued that Asia Bibi had confessed to her crime during interrogation. It also asked the apex court to review its decision and place her name on the Exit Control List (ECL).
