Christians in Scotland converge at Pakistan consulate to call for freedom for Asia Bibi

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Glasgow: February 13, 2017. (PCP) Dozens of protesters converged outside the Pakistani Consulate in Glasgow to call for Freedom of Asia Bibi, Pakistan's most famous blasphemy law victim. They believe the Christian mother of five who has been jailed in Multan for over seven years should be set free. During a meeting with the First Minister at the Pakistani High Commission in London, Chairman of the BPCA, Wilson Chowdhry was informed that a date for Asia Bibi's Supreme court appeal trial would be fixed by the end of March. An earlier appeal trial was postponed after a Judge on the day of trial objected to preside over the case due to an alleged conflict of interest. He retired form his post a month later in a debacle that is believed to have been triggered due to threats to his life from extremists if he or any other judge set Asia Bibi free. In the chill winter air of Glasgow on Saturday 11th February 2016, Glaswegians would have thought they were imagining the strange calls for freedom for a Christian in Pakistan as despite the consulate being known by local Police as the most common location in their city for protests; it is rare for Pakistani Christians to protest. In fact a small group of local residents even came to protest against our protest as they had been disturbed so many times by other demonstrations that had caused a disturbance to their every day lives. However when they heard the shocking story of the plight of Asia Bibi and other Christian victims they left us to our work with their blessing. Protesters came from all over Glasgow and though their may only be 500 Pakistani Christians in Glasgow over 50 of them turned up despite warnings of potential snow and a temperature of -2 degrees centigrade. The youngest protester was a toddler and the oldest was in his eighties and the event illustrated that Pakistani Christians in the UK really do care for the plight of Asia Bibi and other persecuted in Pakistan, despite none of their London counterparts making it to our Pakistan High Commission and 10 Downing Street protest. Pastor Fredrick Dacosta who presides over a 70-strong congregation of Pakistani Christians in Glasgow, sent a live feed of the demonstration through Facebook. The event was also filmed by C44 News in Pakistan who now have a UK office. Demonstrators called for freedom for Asia Bibi and judges brave enough to preside over her landmark case that has created great schism in the country. Pastor Fredrick Dacosta, said: "Asia Bibi is innocent. Her incarceration for seven years is a human rights abuse that must be rectified. She has neither committed a blasphemy or any over crime that deserves the punishment she has received. "The real criminals always get away - this is a deplorable reality in Pakistan. Pastor George Gill, said: "Time and time again we protest for justice on Pakistan and nothing changes. Our people bleed in Pakistan and the west ignores their plight. "We must redouble our efforts and not lose hope, as our God is great God and one day he will take vengeance for his people - it is not for us to seek vengeance our hope is in our Lord." Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said: "Asia Bibi is close to insanity she has been deprived of human contact and her dignity. She has watched as a never-ending failure by the Pakistani legal system has shattered her hopes for freedom time and time again. "Yet throughout this turmoil this brave, frightened woman with worsening health conditions has sought the help of her God. At the times of her darkest torment she has found solace in prayer and has never contemplated leaving her faith even though accepting Islam under duress could set her free. "This woman's life is a testament to us all. Whether she lives or dies in that brutal, cruel prison in Multan in which she is despised by Muslim inmates and prison staff alike - her grip on personal liberty and the right for freedom of belief and conscience has shown how the human spirit can be resolute against the evils of this world. "For Christians she has shown how faith in God can give an inner peace and that this temporary world contains nothing that can shackle truth. "I for one will continue my challenge for her freedom and call for people of good conscience to rally for this innocent woman.

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"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti

On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.

nazirbhattipcc@aol.com , pakistanchristianpost@yahoo.com