Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - The case of Asia Bibi will go ahead through ordinary proceedings, without the short cut of “presidential pardon”: according to Fides sources in Lahore. In Pakistani society and politics it now seems established that the legal process and procedure will continue. It will be to that extent that the Church and human rights organizations remains committed, which have always supported in this way: “We welcome the process because we want Asia to be declared innocent once and for all, without blemish and without ambiguity because we want to defuse the controversy raised by Muslim extremists and weaken their uprisings. We continue to follow the case and record the consensus and sympathy of large sections of civil society, including many Muslims,” Bishop Sebastian Shaw, Auxiliary Bishop of Lahore, said in an interview with Fides.
To confirm that the case will continue through the courts, there is today's pronouncement of the High Court of Lahore, where Bibi's appeal is registered. Today the Court issued an order suspending the sentence, following the petition by some lawyers asking the Court for the possibility of a presidential pardon. The pardon may be granted, it says, only after the conclusion of trial procedures throughout the three courts. The Court notified the outcome of the request to the federal presidential and provincial offices of Punjab. Asia Bibi's lawyers await, at this point, the date of first hearing for the new trial before the High Court of Lahore.
Meanwhile, yesterday Cardinal Jean-Lous Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, ended his visit to Pakistan. “We thank the Pope for sending Cardinal Tauran to take a close look at our situation and to listen to our problems, with great empathy,” Bishop Shaw told Fides, noting that “the Cardinal praised the efforts of the Church in Pakistan in building bridges with Muslims and for contributing towards increased harmony and peace in society.”
The Cardinal yesterday opened a new Centre for Peace, sponsored by the Dominican Fathers in Lahore, in the presence of leaders of other religions. He visited the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue at the Bishops' Conference of Pakistan and celebrated Holy Mass in the Cathedral in Lahore, noting that “Advent is a time to welcome and witness to Jesus.” These are words that echo for the Christian community in Pakistan as encouragement at a critical time due to pressure by radical Islamic groups and threats against the Christian settlements that were reported in Karachi, capital of Sindh province. Here the story of marriage between a young Christian man and a young Muslim woman has caused religious tensions and intimidation against Christians. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2010)
