ASIA Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman who triggered a blasphemy furor in that country, is facing a threat of a suicide attack inside a jail, where she is currently lodged.
The ‘Moaviya group’, a fundamentalist Muslim group, is planning to launch a suicide attack on Sheikhupura district jail, where Asia Bibi is lodged currently.
According to a report in the Express Tribune newspaper, an intelligence report issued last week has corroborated threat to her life.
Full coverage: Asia Bibi in the news
“Punjab police and jail authorities subsequently beefed up security due to the intelligence report and the assassination of Taseer,” the report said.
Last year, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death after being convicted under the blasphemy law for allegedly ‘insulting’ prophet Mohammed. She denied the charge and said she was framed by a group of Muslim women with whom she had a row.
According to official figures, 131 people are being held in jails across Punjab on blasphemy charges. Eleven of them have been sentenced to death, including Asia Bibi, who was the first woman to be given the penalty.
Pakistani Christians fear that Bibi could be killed in jail. Their fear is not entirely misplaced. Since 1990, at least 10 Pakistanis have been killed while awaiting trial on blasphemy charges.
Full coverage: Asia Bibi in the news
