The husband of a Christian woman whose death sentence for blasphemy was overturned last week is pleading with the UK, US and Canada to grant her asylum.

Protests by Islamist hardliners brought Pakistan to a standstill following Asia Bibi's acquittal last week.  Calls have gone out for the deaths of Bibi and the judges who acquitted her of the charges after eight years on death row.

Her lawyer, Saiful Malook, has reportedly left Pakistan out of fear for his life after protests against her acquittal turned violent.

The Pakistani government has come under fire for reaching a deal with Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP), which orchestrated the protests.

As part of the deal, fresh legal proceedings will begin to stop Bibi from leaving Pakistan. A number of arrested protesters were also to be freed.

Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, said the deal has only made the family - who are in hiding - more frightened.

'The agreement has sent a shiver down my spine,' he told German broadcaster DW. 

'My wife, Asia Bibi, has already suffered greatly. She has spent 10 years in jail. My daughters were dying to see her free, but now this review petition will prolong her plight.'

Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled last Wednesday that there was not enough evidence to support the blasphemy charges against Bibi. However, it still has to complete a review of its final verdict.

Masih fears that hardliners will try to sway the judiciary against Bibi.

He said: 'The judiciary is very courageous. It has really decided the verdict on merit. But now during the review petition, the clerics might gather outside the Supreme Court and try to influence the verdict. It is wrong to set a precedent in which you pile pressure onto the judiciary.'

He has made a video appeal to the leaders of the UK, US and Canada to offer asylum to Bibi and the family.