ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed the review petition filed against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi on blasphemy charges.

“On merit, the review petition is dismissed,” announced Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.

The hearing was presided over by Justice Khosa, part of the three-member bench constituted to hear the petition.

The hearing continued for over an hour and a half. The petitioner Qari Muhammad Salaam’s lawyer said that the matter of Aasia’s acquittal is a matter concerning the Muslim ulema and religious scholars should also be called to present their point of view.

“Does Islam say that one should be punished if the crime is not proven,” questioned Justice Khosa and also asked if the verdict was not given on merit. He also lamented that such blatant discrepancies were not overlooked by the lower court and the high court.

The chief justice also asked the counsel to point out a single flaw in the judgment regarding Aasia’s acquittal. However, the lawyer failed to do so. The bench further asked him to point out flaws in the verdict first before a larger bench would be formed.

“An FIR lodged five days after an incident is suspect,” said Justice Khosa while referring to report lodged in the case and which formed the basis for Aasia’s prosecution. He added that testimonies also differed in their account regarding the size and the place of the crowd which had gathered following the blasphemy accusation.

The lawyer countered that late registration of an FIR does not necessarily mean ill intention.

“Should we then hand an accused on the basis of such testimonies,” questioned the chief justice.

“We are hearing the case at length for the satisfaction of those who issue fatwas without reading the verdict,” said Justice Khosa.

At the end, Justice Khosa asked the complainant counsel’s to assist in deciding what should be punishment for those witnesses who made the false statement. The chief justice said that under the law, the false witnesses in such cases should be awarded life imprisonment after summary trial.

Security in the federal capital was placed on high alert and the Islamabad administration sought deployment of the paramilitary Rangers.

The deputy commissioner of Islamabad, in a letter to the authorities concerned, had said that Punjab Rangers should be deployed as part of the efforts to heighten security in Judges Colony, Ministers Enclave and Diplomatic Enclave.

Bibi’s lawyer, Saiful Malook, who fled to Europe after her acquittal, told Reuters he expected the case to be dismissed. Malook returned to Pakistan this week to represent Bibi in the court.