Pakistani lawyer returns home to defend Aasia Bibi

ISLAMABAD: The lawyer of a Pakistani Christian woman facing the final ruling on her fate is back in the country, vowing to fight the last legal hurdle with his client who has faced death threats from extremists following her acquittal in a blasphemy case.

Saiful Malook fled the country after Pakistan’s Supreme Court last October ruled to release Aasia Bibi from death row.

The decision sparked protests by religious extremists and forced authorities to place Bibi under guard at a secret location until the top court reviews the extremists’ petition against her

Malook said on Monday he’ll be in court the following day for its final decision.

Police have stepped up security and jailed several radical extremists, including hard-line cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi who organized past protests against Bibi.

Associated Press