ISLAMABAD: The Presidency has not yet received a mercy petition regarding the pardon for Asiya Noreen, who has been sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, but the president would act on the prime minister’s advice in this matter, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said on Monday.
Babar made the statement as Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti racked up pressure on President Asif Zardari to pardon Asiya.
“According to my own investigation, it was a personal dispute and she did not commit blasphemy,” said Shahbaz Bhatti.
He said Zardari had commissioned him to investigate the case. “I will hopefully submit my report to the president on Wednesday and recommend to him to grant pardon to Asiya Bibi,” he said. “Asiya is innocent and the case against her is baseless,” Bhatti said.
