The husband of a Christian woman who was acquitted of blasphemy after eight years on death row in Pakistan has begged Britain to give the family asylum after Imran Khan’s government moved to stop her leaving.
In an interview with The Times Ashiq Masih, who is in hiding with his wife Asia Bibi, pleaded with Theresa May to intervene and help the family “escape from Pakistan” as Islamists across the country protest to demand that she be hanged.
Mr Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, had at first stood up to the protesters, calling them “enemies of the country” in a speech after the verdict. Within 48 hours, however, his government appeared to capitulate, agreeing to put Ms Bibi on the exit-control list in exchange for an end to the protests. It also promised that it would not oppose a court petition calling for her acquittal to be overturned. [The Times (£)] Read more
