ISLAMABAD: Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland telephoned her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi to discuss various issues, including the Supreme Court’s verdict of acquitting Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman, of blasphemy charge.
Dr Muhammad Faisal, a Foreign Office spokesperson, tweeted: “Canadian FM telephoned FM Qureshi yesterday. Among other issues, Asia Bibi was discussed. Canadian FM appreciated Supreme Court’s courageous decision & PM’s positive speech.”
Canadian FM telephoned FM Qureshi yesterday. Among other issues, Asia Bibi was discussed. Canadian FM appreciated Supreme Court’s courageous decision & PM’s positive speech. (1/2)
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) November 13, 2018
In another tweet, he quoted FM Qureshi as saying: “Aasia Bibi is our national and Pakistan fully respects her legal rights.”
FM Qureshi said that Asia Bibi is our national and Pakistan fully respects her legal rights (2/2)
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) November 13, 2018
A day earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government was holding talks with Pakistan over potentially offering asylum to Asia Bibi.
“We are in discussions with the Pakistani government,” Trudeau said in an interview with AFP in Paris, where he was attending a peace conference organised by French President Emmanuel Macron.
“There is a delicate domestic context that we respect which is why I don’t want to say any more about that, but I will remind people Canada is a welcoming country,” he said.
