Protests Rock Pakistan Over Acquittal of Christian Woman on Blasphemy

Published November 3rd, 2018 - 08:08 GMT

Rallies continued in Pakistan over the court's acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy. Protesters blocked major highways, businesses were shut down and the authorities feared an escalation of violence.

Her release was delayed after negotiations failed between the government and an extremist religious group that is demanding the execution of Asia Bibi who has been on death row since 2009. 

 

 
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Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy, in Islamabad on November 2, 2018. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, holds an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi during a protest rally. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stand on a container set up to block a street during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

(AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stands over an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

A supporter of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) burns a poster of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on a block street during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi. (ASIF HASSAN / AFP)

Khadim Hussain Rizvi (centre R), head of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious political party, offers Friday prayers along with supporters during a protest rally in Pakistan. (ARIF ALI / AFP)

Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) chant slogans during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (ARIF ALI / AFP)

Supporters of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman. (ABDUL MAJEED / AFP)

Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy, in Islamabad on November 2, 2018. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, holds an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi during a protest rally. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stand on a container set up to block a street during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
(AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stands over an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A supporter of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) burns a poster of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on a block street during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi. (ASIF HASSAN / AFP)
Khadim Hussain Rizvi (centre R), head of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious political party, offers Friday prayers along with supporters during a protest rally in Pakistan. (ARIF ALI / AFP)
Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) chant slogans during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (ARIF ALI / AFP)
Supporters of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman. (ABDUL MAJEED / AFP)
Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy, in Islamabad on November 2, 2018. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy, in Islamabad on November 2, 2018. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, holds an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi during a protest rally. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a hardline religious party, holds an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi during a protest rally. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stand on a container set up to block a street during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
Pakistani supporters of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stand on a container set up to block a street during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
(AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
(AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stands over an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A Pakistani supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) stands over an image of Christian woman Asia Bibi. (AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
A supporter of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) burns a poster of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on a block street during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi. (ASIF HASSAN / AFP)
A supporter of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) burns a poster of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on a block street during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi. (ASIF HASSAN / AFP)
Khadim Hussain Rizvi (centre R), head of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious political party, offers Friday prayers along with supporters during a protest rally in Pakistan. (ARIF ALI / AFP)
Khadim Hussain Rizvi (centre R), head of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious political party, offers Friday prayers along with supporters during a protest rally in Pakistan. (ARIF ALI / AFP)
Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) chant slogans during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (ARIF ALI / AFP)
Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) chant slogans during a protest following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy. (ARIF ALI / AFP)
Supporters of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman. (ABDUL MAJEED / AFP)
Supporters of Pakistan's religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) march during a protest rally following the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman. (ABDUL MAJEED / AFP)

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