RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Thursday adjourned the hearing of Asia Bibi's final appeal challenging death sentence for an indefinite period while Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman recused himself to hear the case.

Asia Bibi, a Christian lady has been on the death row since November 2010 after being convicted for committing blasphemy during an argument with a Muslim woman in Sheikhupura.

On Thursday, a three-member bench led by the Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, comprising Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman and Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik resumed the hearing of the appeal of Asia Bibi, filed against the Lahore High Court verdict that had upheld the death sentence which a Sessions Judge had awarded to Asia Bibi in the matter.

At the onset of the hearing, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar told Saiful Malook, the counsel for Asia Bibi, that one member of bench deemed it fit that he should not be part of the bench to hear the matter on grounds that he had heard the then Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer murder case in Islamabad High Court at length and that case has a nexus with this matter.

Later, referring the matter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the bench adjourned the hearing of case for an indefinite period.