The Pakistan High Court barred the Pakistani government on Monday from pardoning a Christian woman sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.
Lawyer Allah Bakhsh Leghari successfully argued that this pardon is illegal while the case was pending in the courts.
"Since the matter is in the high court, the government cannot now make any move to pardon Bibi," he told Agence France-Presse.
Asia Bibi was sentenced earlier this year to death by hanging for allegedly blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad. The Christian mother of five was arrested in 2009 following an argument with fellow field workers who had refused to drink water from her container because it was touched by a Christian. They argued, but Bibi thought nothing more of the incident until she was dragged away from her house by a group of Muslims who attempted to force her to convert. She refused and was then accused of blasphemy against Mohammed – a charge she categorically denies.
The official charged with investigating these accusations, Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti said he expects her to be cleared because initial findings prove her innocence.
Religious leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI, and human rights groups have called for her release but conservative Muslims have threatened anarchy if President Asif Ali Zadari pardons the woman.
In the past, Pakistan’s courts have issued death sentences for blasphemy, but no executions have been carried out. All the death sentences were thrown out upon appeal.