Aasia Bibi allowed to leave Pakistan

The government in Pakistan has said a woman at the centre of controversy over a blasphemy case is free to “go anywhere she wants”.

Aasia Bibi was originally convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a row with her neighbours but the decision was overturned by the Supreme Court in October last year.

She was freed from death row but has been kept in a secret location after mass protests were held by religious groups.

Earlier this week a petition against the acquittal of Ms Bibi was denied.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told Dawn News that following the decision she “is a free woman and she can go anywhere she wants.”

It is understood members of her family have already left the country and Western nations have offered Ms Bibi asylum.