Chinese engineer blasphemy case

2023 Chinese engineer Pakistan blasphemy case

Date	17 April 2023
Location	Dasu Hydropower Project, Pakistan
Outcome	Ongoing
Accused	Name withheld
Charges	Blasphemy against Islam under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act

A Chinese national employed at the Dasu Hydropower Project in Pakistan was accused of insulting Islam by workers there. On April 17, 2023, the police arrested the suspect after filing a FIR against him in accordance with Section 295-C of the Pakistani Penal Code. Due to the sensitivity of blasphemy in Pakistan, which has a majority of Muslims, even rumours of sacrilegious words can ignite lynch mobs and deadly violence, the case attracted a lot of attention. For his safety, the accused was flown to Abbottabad by an army chopper. The FIR also referenced Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Background

Two local drivers were allegedly admonished by the accused, who is only known as a heavy transport supervisor for taking too much time away from their jobs to pray. He brought up the "slow pace of work" during the fasting month of Ramadan, which sparked a heated argument with the workers. About 400 residents gathered to protest after the labourers accused the engineer of uttering disrespectful comments. The accused was safely transported to the Komila police station after the police arrived at the scene and seized control of the area.

The case received widespread attention due to the sensitivity of blasphemy in Pakistan, a punishable offense that can carry the death penalty. The misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan has been a contentious issue for a long time, with many people falsely accused and punished under these laws. A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) stated that as many as 89 citizens were killed in 1,415 accusations and cases of blasphemy in the country since independence. The report said that from 1947 to 2021, 18 women and 71 men were extrajudicially killed over blasphemy accusations. The allegations were made against 107 women and 1,308 men.

Reactions

Near Barseen, locals protested and a mob attempted to break into a Chinese camp, damaging site number 6. Because the authorities were concerned that the people could hurt him, the accused was flown to Abbottabad by army chopper. The FIR contained Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the Chinese national will appear before a court in Abbottabad.

On Tuesday, the Chinese foreign ministry has said its mission in Islamabad was verifying the situation. “The Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by the laws and regulations of the host country and respect local customs,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said. “If this issue does involve a Chinese citizen, the embassy will provide consular protection and assistance within the scope of its duties,” he said.

Since the early 2000s, they have been at least 40 attacks on Chinese interests across Pakistan. But unlike other counties where Chinese embassies react strongly to such incidents, in Pakistan reactions have remained muted, likely due to Pakistan’s geo-strategic value for China.

See also

• List of blasphemy cases in Pakistan

References

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