Reports of Aasia Bibi leaving Pakistan fake news: Pakistan Authorities
What's the story
Pakistani authorities today rejected the reports as "fake news" that a Christian woman who was released from a jail a week after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction and death sentence for blasphemy has left for the Netherlands.
Aasia Bibi, 47, acquitted in the blasphemy case was released, amid nationwide anger, from the jail in Multan on Wednesday midnight.
Here's more.
Source
Local media reported about Aasia's departure to Netherlands
A local media, 24News, reported today that Aasia was taken to Noor Khan Airbase Rawalpindi, from where she would be shifted to the Netherlands.
Some other news channels also reported the release of Aasia Bibi and her departure for the Netherlands.
However, Foreign Office spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal said it's a fake news that the mother of five had left the country.
Reaction
Media should act responsible: Pakistan Information Minister
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also rejected the reports about her going out of the country.
"It has become a norm to publish fake news for sake of headlines, #AsiaBibi case is a sensitive issue and it was extremely irresponsible to publish news of her leaving the country without confirmation. I strongly urge section of media to act responsible," he said.
Information
Aasia's husband too had asked for help from world leaders
Earlier, Italy said it'd help Bibi leave the country. Her husband Ashiq Masih, in a video message, too had appealed to the US president, and the UK and Canada premiers to help her leave the country and "Help us in getting freedom," he had said.
Action
TLP has ordered workers to stop Aasia leave Pakistan
Khadim Hussain Rizvi-founded TLP spokesperson Hafiz Shahbaz Attari said "the Imran Khan-government has released Aasia, as the Netherlands ambassador in Islamabad reached Multan jail along with the government officials to ensure her release. She's being transported to Netherlands."
He said a call has been given to the workers who are gathering in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to stop the government to allow Aasia leave Pakistan.
Information
Islamist party demands Aasia's acquittal to be reversed
The apex court verdict, delivered last week, on Aasia prompted immediate anger from TLP that has threatened to paralyze daily life countrywide with street protests if her acquittal is not reversed. However, a spokesman for the Punjab government refused to comment on this matter.
Agreement
TLP-Government signed agreement to put Aasia on exit control list
However, hours after the killing of Godfather of Taliban Maulana Samiul Haq, the TLP on November 2 announced ending sit-ins across the country following reaching a deal with the government on the issue of acquittal of Aasia.
As per the agreement, the government will immediately initiate a process to place the name of Aasia on the no-fly list (exit control list).
Past event
Over 1,000 TLP workers were arrested, mostly from Punjab province
Police had arrested over 1,000 workers of the TLP mostly from Punjab province but later released almost all of them on radicals' threat of blocking the roads.
Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbors.
She always maintained her innocence but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.