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http://ihc.gov.pk/
World News

Judge who forced Asia Bibi appeal delay resigns

by Antony Bushfield

Judge Iqbal Hameed ur Rehman shocked the courtroom on 13th October when he said he could not make a decision on whether Bibi should be put to death because he had a conflict of interest.

Bibi has been behind bars since a Muslim woman accused her of blasphemy. If she loses her appeal at the Supreme Court she will be executed.

After stepping down from the case some accused the judge of not wanting to have Bibi killed but being too scared of reprisals if he exonerated her.

The British Pakistani Christian Association called it "an act of cowardice" and "a chance of self-preservation despite his vaunted position in a creaking national justice system".

The judge gave his resignation in a hand written letter to Mamnoon Hussain, the President of Pakistan, but it's believed he did not give a reason.

BPCA spokesman Wilson Chowdhry said: "The duress this 'champion of justice' caved into, illustrates the power of extremists who are the real authority in Pakistan.

"While a further delay will now extend Asia Bibi's already lengthy seven year incarceration to an unprecedented stay, on trumped up charges, one can only hope the delay will be a long one.

"The dreaded pronouncement of her death by a Supreme Court adamant it will not see justice for this innocent mother of five, will be a painful jolt for all humanitarians who have been campaigning for her freedom."

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