Asia Bibi, acquitted in blasphemy case, finally leaves Pakistan

Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row after being convicted of blasphemy, has left the country, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Her conviction was overturned last year by the Supreme Court.

She was originally convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in a row with her neighbours.

Asia Bibi has always maintained her innocence in a case that has polarised Pakistan.

It is not clear where she has gone or when she left. Some of her family are reported to be in Canada, says a BBC report.

Pakistani government officials did not reveal her destination, but her lawyer Saif Ul Malook told CNN she had already arrived in Canada.

Asia Noreen - commonly known as Asia Bibi - was kept at a secret location while arrangements were made for her to leave the country.

The Supreme Court's quashing of her sentence last October led to violent protests by religious hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws, while more liberal sections of society urged her release.

Asia Bibi, who was born in 1971 and has four children, was the first woman to be sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws.