Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, will soon be moved to an all-women prison due to security concerns, reported ASSIST News Service yesterday.
Asia Bibi will be moved to a new prison.
Sheikhupura Prison superintendent Khalid Sheikh told the media, "I have received directives from the Punjab Home Department to shift Asia from Sheikhupura district jail to an all-women jail in Multan, as her life is in danger in Sheikhupura jail."
The transfer is expected to take place within the week.
Since Asia’s sentence, the Christian community has been raising concerns to the authorities and Shahbaz Bhatti, the Federal Minister for Minority Affairs, claiming Asia is not receiving sufficient security in spite of life threats from militants and rewards for her death being announced across Pakistan.
Asia`s husband, Ashiq Masih, also appealed to the authorities to raise her security, as her life is in danger.
Assist News reported:
The transfer is expected to take place at night under heavy security within the next seven days.
The Punjab Home Department has directed the Inspector General of Police to provide heavy security to ensure a safe transfer.
Mr. Kashif Mazhar, a senior spokesman for Life for All, told the media, "It is good that Asia is being shifted, but the transfer should be kept confidential as the extremists are vigilantly looking for an opportunity to kill Asia Bibi, she should be flown in a helicopter as the matter is extremely serious."
The Christian community raised their concern to the authorities and the Federal Minister for minority affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, claiming that Asia Bibi is not being provided sufficient security despite constant life threats from militants and rewards being announced across Pakistan to kill Asia Bibi.
Asia`s husband Ashiq Masih also appealed to the authorities to raise her security, as her life is in danger. Ministry of Interior had asked the Punjab government to increase security for Asia Bibi in Sheikhupura Jail.
As she waits for her case to be appealed to the Lahore High Court, Asia Bibi spends her time talking to her female prison guards, catching up with the news from a television placed in a nearby room and reading an Urdu Bible given to her by supporters.
She is not a fluent reader, said Pastor Obed Robert, a local pastor for Life for All Ministries who regularly visits her and supports her family, but during her months of incarceration she had taken particular comfort from the words of John Chapter 14, Verse 1, which says: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
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