Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif Saturday restrained President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and the Governor Punjab from making any move for acquittal of Christian blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi till next date of hearing of the petition on December 6.
The CJ issued this order in a petition seeking direction for the federal government and provincial government to abstain from making any move to get Aasia acquitted. The CJ also issued notice to the federal government through deputy attorney general, chief secretary Punjab and personal secretary to the Punjab governor through an additional advocate general directing them to send their comments by December 6, 2010.
The petition was filed by Chaudhry Shahid Iqbal challenging alleged move of the Punjab Governor to get blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi acquitted. He prayed that the proceedings carried out by government of Punjab as well as Punjab governor and federal law ministry for getting Aasia Bibi acquitted of the charge of blasphemy be declared illegal, unlawful and without lawful authority.
The petitioner asked the court as the matter is sub judice, all inquiry committee constituted by federal and provincial government may very kindly be declared illegal and be suspended. The petitioner said the federal government be directed not to take any decision upon the appeal of Aasia Bibi submitted at the behest of Governor of Punjab.
He said such moves of the governments depicted that rulers of federal and provincial governments had no confidence in courts of law rather they depend on their own personal opinion and inquiry committees, which amounts to contempt of courts.