REVIEW OF BLASPHEMY CASE ORDERED

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on November 19 asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs to review the case of a Christian woman convicted under blasphemy law. He has called for a report from the Ministry of Minorities Affairs over the sentencing to death of the Christian woman for blasphemy. Aasia Bibi, a resident of Nankana Sahib in Punjab was sentenced to death under Sections 295 B and C of the Pakistan Penal code, following an incident in which an altercation took place between her and her co-workers over the issue of fetching water from fields. Media reports said police took her into protective custody to shield her from an angry mob and later registered a case of blasphemy against her. Farhatullah Babar said the president asked the Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti to submit a report within three days. Earlier, Pope Benedict XVI had appealed to the government of Pakistan to free Aasia Bibi.