Mohammad Asghar family to meet with Alex Salmond

The family of a Leith pensioner shot while on death row in Pakistan are due to meet First Minister Alex Salmond today.

Mohammad Asgar family meets First Minister.Picture: Comp

Mohammad Asghar was sentenced to death in January after writing letters to a number of people claiming to be the Prophet Mohammed.

The 70-year-old, from Edinburgh, was targeted and shot by a prison guard at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi last month.

He has a long history of mental illness and needs specialist care, which his family say he is not receiving in jail.

They will ask Mr Salmond today for his help in bringing Mr Asghar back to Scotland.

They also want Mr Salmond to urge the Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene in the case.

A petition will be presented to Downing Street on Friday when the family will meet with Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood.

Mr Asghar’s family have previously described how they are living their “worst nightmare”.

Mr Asghar was arrested in 2010 in Rawalpindi after a blasphemy complaint was brought against him by a tenant with whom he was having a dispute.

His medical history was not full brought out at his trial