Nationwide protests continue on second day after Asia Bibi's acquittal

MULTAN, Nov Ist: Heavy Police contingent and rangers were standing alert outside the Women prison of Multan for the last 24 hours where Aasia bibi is awaiting for her release order.Jail authorities said that they did not receive her release order as yet. Source said that Asia bibi will be shifted to safer place from Multan prison and her movement will be kept secret. Intercity transport, Metro bus service remained suspended on Thursday in Multan , Thousands of Passengers who intend to go Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi ,Sukkur, and Rahimyarkhan stranded at General bus stand. Great rush was witnessed at Multan railway station because passengers are forced to use alternate means of transportation.More than a dozen demonstrations were staged by the traders and religious parties in the city. The bearded protesters blocked roads of the city for a second day on Thursday, opposing a Supreme Court decision the previous day to acquit a Christian woman on death row for blasphemy allegations. More than 150 activists of Tehrik Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) blocked the Multan-Lahore road by sitting on roads.As part of the protests continuing for the second day, some roads are under closure and have been barricaded for traffic in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Rahimyarkhan, Khanewal, Vehari, Lodhran,Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Sadiqabad. Imposition of section 144Cr.P.C across punjab failed to bar the demos.

After saving condemned Christian Asia Bibi from the gallows in Pakistan, her lawyer says he is facing the wrath of extremists -- and wonders who will save him.But despite the threats against him, Saif-ul-Mulook says he regrets nothing, and will continue his legal fight against intolerance.
Mulook’s latest victory saw the freeing of Asia Bibi -- a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy, who spent nearly a decade on death row -- after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction Wednesday.
"The verdict has shown that the poor, the minorities and the lowest segments of society can get justice in this country despite its shortcomings," he told AFP immediately after the verdict."This is the biggest and happiest day of my life."
Demonstrations against the ruling erupted across the country hours later.Mulook said he feels he is now a sitting duck with no security or escape plan."I think I have absolutely no safety. No security and I am the easiest target... anybody can kill me," he said.
The defence of Bibi was just the latest in a long line of controversial cases taken up by the barrister.In 2011, Mulook was the lead prosecutor against Mumtaz Qadri over the assassination of Punjab governor Salman Taseer -- a prominent critic of the country’s blasphemy laws and supporter of Bibi.
Qadri -- one of Taseer’s bodyguards -- gunned down his boss in broad daylight, citing the governor’s calls for reform of the blasphemy laws as his motive.Mulook said he took on the case as others cowered, fearing reprisals from extremists.
His prosecution resulted in the conviction and subsequent execution of Qadri, who was feted by Islamists and later honoured with a shrine on the outskirts of Islamabad.Mulook says his life has not been the same since; he rarely socialises, lives in a constant state of hypervigilance and has been inundated with threats.
"If you conduct such cases you should be ready for the results and the consequences," the greying 62-year-old explains.But Mulook said the risks have been worth the reward."I think it’s better to die as a brave and strong man than to die as a mouse and fearful person," he said."I extend my legal help to all people."