Asia Bibi was due to be freed eight years after getting the shock sentence for blasphemy when the Christian drank from a cup of water before passing it to two Muslim fruit-pickers.
However, a row broke out between Ms Bibi and the co-workers who insisted they could not touch the cup after she had drunk from it as the Christian faith is unclean.
Prosecutors claimed Ms Bibi made comments in the row which were an insult to the prophet Muhammad.
After being beaten up at her home she confessed to blasphemy.
But after her acquittal, Ms Bibi’s release has been delayed by thousands of Islamist protesters who brought the nation to a standstill by burning rickshaws, cars and lorries in a mass demonstration against her release.
Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said the army was exercising restraint in the hope of a peaceful resolution and asked demonstrators to refrain from violence and await the outcome of a review to the Supreme Court.
He said: “Let this legal process be completed first.”
Among those calling for Ms Bibi to be publicly hanged is a local cleric who had raised the initial blasphemy charges against her, who has petitioned to the Supreme Court to reverse the acquittal, which was decided on Wednesday.
Since then, Islamists have blocked roads and set fire to vehicles in order to put pressure on the government to stop her release from prison.
Nationwide rallies have also been held with videos uploaded onto the internet showing shoes and stones being hurled at Pakistan’s new prime minister and supporter of Ms Bibi Imran Khan, sparking fears of violence in the nation.
One protestor said: “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for this noble cause and have rejected whatever rubbish the prime minister said in his speech.”
Mr Khan has warned protestors of government backlash should the protestors refuse to stop. He is currently in China on a state visit but plans to return back to Pakistan on November 5.
Ms Bibi, a 47-year-old farm worker, was jailed in 2010 and convicted shortly afterwards over charges of blasphemy.
Ms Bibi admitted arguing with the women, but always maintained she said nothing blasphemous and was innocent of the charges.
Whilst internationally Ms Bibi’s conviction has been condemned as a breach of human rights, within the country there has been strong support.
After the acquittal, large crowds gathered outside the court demanding her conviction to be upheld.
Ms Bibi, a mother of five, has been offered asylum by several countries and will most likely leave the country if released over worries about her safety.