Review petition over Asia Bibi acquittal: Complainant pleads SC for early hearing

LAHORE: The complainant in the Asia Bibi case, Qari Salam, has pleaded to the Supreme Court for an early hearing of his review petition on the court's verdict acquitting Asia Bibi, a Christian woman on death row since she was convicted on blasphemy charges in 2010.

The appeal was filed by counsel Ghulam Mustafa representing Qari Salam, who had registered the original blasphemy case against Asia Bibi in which she was sentenced to death by a trial court. 

The Supreme Court overturned the sentence on Wednesday, acquitting Asia Bibi of the blasphemy charges and ordering her release.

Asia Bibi's acquittal: Roads in major cities blocked as protests continue for third day

Educational institutions across Pakistan have been closed and mobile phone services have been suspended in four cities

On Thursday, Salam filed a petition in the apex court's Lahore registry asking for a review of the verdict by the three-judge bench.

In the review plea, the petitioner urged the court to have Asia Bibi put on the Exit Control List (ECL) and barred from leaving the country until a decision on the petition.

The petitioner argued that Bibi confessed to her crimes during investigation, and that a delay in lodging the First Information Request (FIR) does not imply that the defendant is not guilty of the crime.

Protesters have taken to the streets and blocked roads in major cities of Pakistan since the apex court acquitted Bibi.