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Religious hardliners in Pakistan threaten judges with ‘horrible’ end if they free Christian facing death for blasphemy

Supreme Court has yet to announce its judgment in high-profile case that has divided Pakistan and drawn appeals for clemency from the Vatican

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Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who is facing execution for blasphemy. Photo: AP

Religious hardliners in Pakistan on Wednesday threatened judges and announced protests as the country awaits a Supreme Court ruling on the fate of a Christian woman who faces becoming the first person to be executed for blasphemy.

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Asia Bibi, who has been on death row since 2010, is at the centre of the high-profile case which has divided Pakistan and drawn prayers from the Vatican.

Successive appeals against her conviction have failed.

On Monday the Supreme Court heard her last appeal and said it had reached a judgment, but refused to announce it immediately “for reasons to be recorded later”.

On Wednesday Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious political party – which had a strong showing in nationwide elections earlier this year – said in a press conference aired via YouTube that if she was freed the justices responsible would meet a “horrible” end.

The group’s leaders also called for mass protests on Friday.

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