Pakistan's Supreme Court denies request for early hearing of Asia Bibi's blasphemy case

Pakistan's Supreme Court has denied the request for an early hearing of the appeal of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother who was sentenced to death over allegations of blasphemy.

Bibi's lawyer, Saiful Malook, filed a request in mid-April for the case to be heard in the first week of June. However, the Supreme Court rejected his request for an early hearing, The Express Tribune reported.

"Today I have been informed that the plea was declined by the CJP," Malook said.

Joseph Nadeem, executive director of the Renaissance Education Foundation, which has been supporting Bibi's family since she was imprisoned in 2009, said that the group will apply for another request for an early hearing.

"This is very unfortunate. Her husband became quiet when he heard the latest developments. We shall again apply for the hearing and keep struggling for justice," said Nadeem, according to Radio Vaticana.

"There are many factors at work behind the slow pace of judiciary. Her case has been in the doldrums due to huge pressure. There will be a strong reaction if Bibi is freed. Opposing groups have made it a matter of honor and ego," he added.

In the request for an early hearing, Bibi claimed innocence and noted that she has been imprisoned for the last eight years. She also highlighted that she is the mother of two daughters.

Bibi was sentenced to death in 2010 after her co-workers accused her of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. She maintained her innocence and claimed that she was falsely accused because of a personal dispute with the accuser.

She appealed her death sentence to the Lahore High Court, but the case was delayed numerous times before the court upheld her sentencing in October 2014.

A three-judge bench took up her case in October 2016, but the hearing was quickly adjourned after Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman, a member of the bench, recused himself because he was part of the bench in the murder case of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who was assassinated in 2011 for supporting Bibi.

Bibi, a 51-year-old Christian fruit picker from Sheikhupura, could become the first woman in Pakistan to be executed for blasphemy if the Supreme Court upholds her sentence. Her only option would be to appeal to the president for clemency.

Persecution watchdog groups have referred to Bibi's case as the "best example" of how blasphemy laws can be abused. Organizations such as International Christian Concern and Open Doors USA, have noted that Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often used to target Christians and are also used as a means to settle personal feuds.