• Thursday, April 25, 2024

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Asia Bibi’s daughter begs Pakistan to allow mother to join them

The daughters of Asia Bibi, a Catholic accused of blasphemy, pose in 2010 with an image of their mother while standing outside their residence in Sheikhupura, Pakistan. (CNS/Adrees Latif, Reuters)

By: Keerthi Mohan

THE DAUGHTER of a Pakistani Christian mother freed from a blasphemy death sentence has pleaded her mother be allowed to leave the country.

Asia Bibi’s youngest daughter, 18-year-old Eisham Aashiq, has been living with her sister Esha, 21, in a secret location in Canada since December after prime minister Justin Trudeau provided them asylum.

Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, Bibi’s youngest said: “I am missing her so much, I think about her all the time, and I speak to her on the phone all the time. I say to her, ‘Have faith in God, because if God can release you from jail, God can release you from where you are now. He will bring you out.’”

Eisham last hugged her mother nine years ago, although she did see her through prison bars in October.

Appealing to Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, Eisham said: “I would like to tell him to think about us, and release my mother. We love Pakistan very much, and my mummy will never speak against Pakistan as she loves it too.”

Bibi was on death row for nine years for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed. Last year, she was finally cleared by Pakistan’s Supreme Court of all charges. But Bibi and her husband are yet to leave the country. They remain in protective custody sheltering from lynch mobs.

Hardline Islamists have threatened to track her down and kill her, with some suggesting they would pursue her abroad if she leaves the country.

Bibi’s health is failing and she is being denied access to medical care, MailOnline reported last week.

“Asia has extremely low blood pressure and she is not getting the medical treatment she needs,” a source told the publication.

“Everyone is very worried. She won her appeal and was supposed to be out of Pakistan by now. Even though the government says she can leave, the army has all the power in this case.

“They are in control of her. They are fearful about getting a negative press if she speaks out about her experiences – but they will get an even worse press if she dies in protective custody.”

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