Governor Punjab Salman Taseer on Saturday said that conviction of Christian woman is “a joke with constitution”. He said President Zardari would soon sign the mercy petition of Christian woman.

Talking to mediamen in a meeting with Asia Bibi at district jail Sheikhupura, he said that he wanted to release her from prison out of humanity as she was very poor and could not afford to defend legally the allegations against her.

The Governor said that he studied the whole case but that incident did not happen through which Asia Bibi was convicted, said a handout.

He said that he was a constitutional head of the province and he had received a mercy petition from Asia Bibi, which would be forwarded to the President of Pakistan and hoped that the President would forgive her sentence.

He quoted a reference of 'Kalma Pak' that Allah is very Beneficent and Merciful. He said Pakistan is an Islamic country and the white colour in the national flag represents minorities.

"Citizens of Pakistan have full freedom no matter to which caste he belongs to, no one is victimized in this country on behalf of religion.

The Governor said that it was the decision of the court and he did not want to interfere in it, but President had the rights to forgive the sentence of anyone.

On the occasion Asia Bibi said that there was only a water dispute, but the people made a false and fabricated case of blasphemy against her. She said she respected Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as he is the last prophet and she never even thought of passing blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).