The daughter of Pakistani Christian woman, Asia Bibi, has made an impassioned plea for the immediate release of her mother. Bibi, who was acquitted of blasphemy charges by the Pakistani Supreme Court last October, is still being held in a safe house, despite being offered asylum in Canada.
‘Everyone is Worried’: Asia Bibi ‘Very Unwell’ in Pakistani Safe House, Being Denied Medical Care
“I am missing her so much,” Bibi’s daughter, Eisham Ashiq, told the Daily Mail. “I think about her all the time, and I speak to her on the phone all the time. I say to her, ‘Have faith in God, because if God can release you from jail, God can release you from where you are now. He will bring you out.'”
Ashiq, along with her siblings, is currently residing in Canada, awaiting the arrival of her mother Asia and father Ashiq Masih.
“When she comes, I will hug her and kiss her, and that day will be a very special day when my mummy arrives, and I know I will be very happy, and will thank God before anything else,” Eisham added.
What is the latest on Bibi’s situation?
Bibi, 53, is reported to be in dire physical condition as she continues to be held in a safe house in the Pakistani city of Karachi.
Despite the fact that Bibi’s children are now safely in Canada, the Pakistani government has wanted to seek assurances from the embattled mother that she will not speak ill of her home country in the media upon leaving — soemthing that Eisham herself believes Bibi will not do.
“We love Pakistan very much, and my mummy will never speak against Pakistan as she loves it too,” she added.
There is still no indication of when exactly Bibi will finally evade the clutches of the country that has caused her so much strife.
“Even though the government says she can leave, the army has all the power in this case,” noted a source close to the family last week. “They are in control of her. They are fearful about getting a negative press if she speaks out about her experiences – but they will get an even worse press if she dies in protective custody.”
British officials recently stated that the Pakistani government has “confirmed that Asia Bibi is free to make her own decisions and to leave Pakistan,” but the realities of this case speak of a very different story indeed.
Still in grave danger
As Eisham noted in her latest remarks, Bibi remains at risk of being taken out by the hardline Islamic clerics who wanted to see her executed for a crime she did not commit. “At the moment, she has security, but she could face problems any moment, any time, and it could happen very quickly,” the daughter explained, expressing her concern that the bloodthirsty mob will get to Bibi before she can escape the country.
Eisham also urged Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to act swiftly to ensure the safe passage of her monther to Canada. “I would like to tell him to think about us, and release my mother,” she said.
What is the background?
Bibi was initially arrested back in 2009 after supposedly entering into an argument with a group of women about a source of drinking water. The Islamist women accused Bibi of drinking from the same tap as them, to which Bibi allegedly responded, “Jesus Christ died for my sins. What did the prophet Muhammad do for you?” a remark which they believed offended their revered religious figure.
However, in the Supreme Court’s final judgment, it declared that the two sisters who accused Bibi “had no regard for the truth,” before adding that “the said semi-literate young sisters had a reason to level allegations against the appellant which could be untrue.”
“Her conviction is set aside and she is to be relieved forthwith if not required in other charges,” said Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in the astonishingly bold ruling, as reported by The Guardian.