Pakistan: 'Don't confront the state', Imran Khan talks tough to Asia Bibi verdict protestors

New Delhi: As hardliners in Pakistan continued to stage violent protests over Supreme Court’s acquittal of Asia Bibi, Prime Minister Imran Khan while toughening his stance asked protesters not to “confront the state”. Asking them to refrain from vandalism, PM Khan warned that if they do not back off, the state will fulfil its responsibilities. Khan addressed the nation through a video message which particularly focuses on Asia Bibi verdict and turmoil witnessed thereafter. He said “I ask these elements (protestors) to avoid confronting the State. But if they opted to do so, the State will fulfil its responsibilities. We will protect the life and property of people...We will not let them (protestors) involve in vandalism or close down the roads”. He said it is not acceptable of any man to call for rebellion against the Army Chief or shout death threats for the judges. He condemned the protestors blocking a highway linking the capital Islamabad with garrison city of Rawalpindi, asking ‘if the Supreme Court does not issue a verdict according to their wishes, will they come out on the roads?’ Khan said that he was forced to give the address after the reaction by protestors against the verdict and the kind of language they were using against State institutions. Appearing highly troubled, Imran asked his people how can a state function in such circumstances. “Those involved in the vandalism are not doing any service to Islam. They are in fact enemies of Islam. The verdict was issued in the light of the Constitution of the country which is based on Islam,” he said. He said that the Pakistan government is already facing tough economic hurdles and the protestors were creating more difficulties to get political mileage out of the verdict. “We have yet to take a day off... we are struggling continuously to uplift the people [and] to improve the conditions of the underprivileged," he said. "The people are to bear the brunt of this. The labours who are reliant on daily wages... how will they survive?" he asked. Asia Bibi, a 47-year-old lady who is a mother of four children was on a death row for over eight years in a blasphemy case. In a landmark verdict, Bibi was acquitted on Wednesday. The extremists, however, reacted sadistically and staged hostile protests at many cities. Karachi was paralysed due to the protests and most of the main roads were shut down by the protesters burning tyres and pelting stones at vehicles.’ Asia Bibi was accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours in 2009. She was convicted by the trial court in 2010. Her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014. She always maintained her innocence but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement. She appealed against the conviction in the Supreme Court, which for the first time heard the case in July 2015. Bibi was the first woman who was given death sentence under the blasphemy laws. According to officials, Bibi might be flown out of Pakistan due to the threat to her life. It is not clear where she will go as several countries, including Canada, have offered asylum to her.