Blasphemy case woman in Pakistan seeks Canadian assistance

The husband of a PakistaniChristian woman acquitted after spending eight years on deathrow on charges of blasphemy has appealed to U.S. PresidentDonald Trump for refuge, citing danger to family members' lives.

Ashiq Masih, who is married toAsia Bibi, whose case hasoutraged Christians worldwide and been a source of divisionwithin Pakistan, also appealed to the United Kingdom and Canadafor assistance.

The ultra-right Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party blocked majorroads in Pakistan's biggest cities for three days, calling forthe murder of the Supreme Court judges who acquitted Asia Bibion Wednesday, and terming Prime Minister Imran Khan and thecountry's army chief enemies of Islam.

The TLP called off the protests late on Friday afterstriking a deal with the government that could see authoritiesseek to put Bibi on an "exit control list"barring her fromleaving the country and open a review of the verdict in thecourts.

"I am requesting the President of the United States DonaldTrump to help us exit from Pakistan," Masih said in a videorecorded by the British Pakistani Christian Association and seenby Reuters.

Canadian, U.K.leaders asked for help

"I also request the prime minister of the United Kingdom tohelp us, I also request the prime minister of Canada," he said,while also asking for help on behalf of his brother JospehNadeem who has assisted with Bibi's case.

The U.S. Embassy and British and Canadian High Commissionsin Islamabad did not immediately respond to a request forcomment on the video.

On Saturday, Bibi's lawyer Saiful Mulook told Reuters he hadleft Pakistan "to save [my]life from angry mob" and because offears for the safety of his family.

Bibi, 47, was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 for allegedly makingderogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to herdrinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim.

Her case caught the attention of then Punjab provincialgovernorSalmanTaseerwho spoke inBibi'sdefence before beingassassinated by his bodyguard in 2011. TheTLPwas founded outof a movement to supportTaseer'sassassin, who was hanged in2016.

Federal minister for minoritiesShahbazBhattiwas alsokilled after calling for her release.

Bibi's family and Mulooksay she never insulted the prophet. In previous hearings,Mulook pointed to contradictions in testimony from witnesses.

Chaudhry Ghulam Mustafa, a lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, rejected the acquittal, saying Bibi had confessed to making derogatory remarks against the prophet to seek a pardon.

Bibi's whereabouts are unknown, but the TLP has warned theauthorities against taking her out of the country.

"There will be a war if they send Asia out of country," TLPleader Khadim Hussain Rizvi said after the deal with thegovernment was reached.

Islamist parties have characterized Bibi's release asPakistan's government caving into Western demands.