The Pakistani lawyer who helped acquit a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy has claimed the UN and EU made him leave the country against his wishes.

Saiful Malook fled to the Netherlands after radical Islamist violence erupted following the Pakistani Supreme Court's acquittal of Asia Bibi on Wednesday.

The mother-of-five, 47, has spent the past eight years on death row after she was convicted in 2010 over allegations she insulted Prophet Muhammad in a dispute with her neighbours. Despite her acquittal, Ms Bibi remains in prison.

The court's decision to overturn the verdict led to violent protests throughout Pakistan by angry mobs calling for the judges in the case to be killed.

Image: Asia Bibi was on death row for eight years

Mr Malook said he contacted a United Nations official in Islamabad after the protests left him fearing for his life.


"And then they (the UN) and the European nation ambassadors in Islamabad, they kept me for three days and then put me on a plane against my wishes," the lawyer said during a press conference in The Hague.

Mr Malook said he was "not happy" to leave the country without Ms Bibi and has no idea where she is.

He continued: "I pressed them that I would not leave the country unless I get Asia out of the prison... I am not happy to be here without her but, but everybody said that you are the prime target at the moment and the whole world is taking care of Asia Bibi.

"They were of the view that I was the prime target to be killed, and that my life was in imminent danger.

Image: Pakistani activists of the Islamic Jamiat-e-Ittihad ul Ulema party chant slogans during a protest

"For three days they did not let me open the door, one day I called the French ambassador and said I do not want to be here."

Mr Mulook said he did not know whether Ms Bibi would want to seek asylum.

On Saturday, her husband Ashiq Masih asked Theresa May to grant his family asylum in Britain.

Speaking in Punjabi, Mr Masih said in a video: "I am requesting the prime minister of the UK help us and as far as possible grant us freedom."

He also called for asylum from US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the clip.

Mr Mulook said Italy had offered asylum to both his family and Ms Bibi's, but that they had not accepted the offer since UN officials said they would make arrangements.

The court decision prompted more than 2,000 Islamists to block a key road linking the capital, Islamabad, with the garrison city of Rawalpindi, causing traffic jams.

Other protesters damaged or set fire to dozens of vehicles to pressure the government - resulting in her release being delayed.

Islamists have said they would escalate the protests if Ms Bibi were permitted to leave the country.

The government has indicated it will bar her from travelling abroad.