In total over half a million Catholics took part around the country, representing a huge proportion of the total Catholic population of the Islamic Republic, says parish priest in Karachi.

After the latest verdict was announced, special security measures were put in place, with rangers and police forces deployed to enforce public order in the capital, Islamabad.

The Church in Chains group has organised the vigil to highlight the “dreadful injustice” to Asia Bibi who is “still effectively a prisoner”, and that her life and that of her family are “in grave danger”.

About 10,000 families from around Pakistan had applied for visas; 600 from the archdiocese of Karachi alone. All requests were rejected.

Human rights groups believe Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often used to discriminate against religious minorities, such as the country's estimated three million Christians.

Phone networks have been badly damaged which is hampering the communication of information about the scale of the casualties and damage.