Don't confront the State: PM Imran warns Bibi verdict protestors

Talking tough, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday told hardliners not to "confront the State" and refrain from vandalism after the Supreme Court acquitted a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy.

Prime Minister Khan addressed the nation through a video message and his address was solely focused on the Asia Bibi verdict.

Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, who was on a death row for eight years for blasphemy, was acquitted by the apex court in a landmark verdict which evoked protests, death threats from hardline groups and cheers from human rights advocates.

"I ask these elements (protestors) to avoid confronting the State. But if they opted to do so, the State will fulfill its responsibilities," Khan said.

"We will protect life and property of people...We will not let them (protestors) involve in vandalism or close down the roads," he said, referring to protestors blocking a highway linking the capital Islamabad with garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Many parts of Karachi were paralysed due to the protests and most of the main roads were shut down by the protesters who are burning tyres and pelting stones at vehicles.

Khan appealed to the public to remain calm and refrain from joining those trying to create law and order problem in the name of Islam.

The Prime Minister said that he was forced to give the address after the reaction by protestors against the verdict and the kind of language they were using against State institutions.

Khan also flayed a video clip of a leader of protestors on social media in which he said that the judges who gave the verdict were liable to murder.

"How a State can function in such circumstances...Those involved in this are not doing any service to Islam. They are in fact enemies of Islam," Khan said.

Referring to the protesters who have disrupted routine life across the country, he said: "If the Supreme Court does not issue a verdict according to their wishes, will they come out on the roads?"