Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - A report on the critical conditions of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, and locked up in the prison of Sheikupura, reached the Federal Ministry for Harmony. As informs local sources of Fides, the Ministry is mobilizing to respond to "Masihi Foundation’s" appeal in order to provide immediate medical check-up for Asia Bibi. The Minister of State for Harmony, Akram Gill - who last month met with the Pope - has confirmed to Fides: "We have taken note of Asia Bibi’s conditions. Helping her now is a humanitarian issue. I will write a letter to the responsible of the prison and to the Interior Ministry, so that a team of doctors and psychologists can visit her immediately, in order to protect Asia’s physical and mental health and give her appropriate treatment".
Even Paul Bhatti, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Religious Minorities, in an interview with Fides, ensures his commitment: "We will mobilize immediately, at an institutional level, to provide Asia Bibi medical assistance". Bhatti said he thought about the woman yesterday, when he met the Christian prisoners in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi: "It is a gesture that was always carried out by my brother Shabhaz – explains Paul Bhatti to Fides- and I intend to continue this tradition. My thoughts also went to Asia Bibi, who is suffering in prison unjustly". The meeting was attended by over 150 prisoners. Bhatti announced some improvements to their lives, including the formation of a team of lawyers of "free legal aid" for those who cannot afford a lawyer. The Board also accepted the request of the prisoners to take care of the restructuring of the Christian chapel in the prison. Bhatti praised the prison administration for allowing religious minorities to practice their faith and underlined to Fides that it intends to ensure that "this right is guaranteed in the prison even where Asia Bibi is locked up", so that she has "the support of faith and prayer". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2011)
