Chinese engineer arrested in Pakistan for insulting 'Allah'

An engineer from China has been arrested in Pakistan, where he works, for allegedly making insulting remarks against the Islamic god 'Allah'.

The employee of China-based Gezhouba Group Company was arrested by police in northern Pakistan as the angry mob tried to assault him. He was taken into custody from a worksite camp at the Dasu hydropower project, according to a report in Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

The engineer reportedly had a heated verbal exchange with Pakistani labourers over the slow-paced work during Ramadan. With the word spreading about the Chinese national insulting Allah, people gathered in huge numbers at the Chinese work camp on Sunday with an intention of attacking him.

The protestors also blocked Karakoram Highway. However, they were controlled by the cops and paramilitary soldiers who have been given the task of protecting Chinese nationals working on the dam. To bring the situation under the control, the security agencies fired warning shots in the air.

The angry mob left the spot after four hours, once they were assured of taking action against the Chinese national. The local religious leaders will however take a call on whether or not to file a blasphemy complaint with the police at the tribal council meeting.

In Muslim-majority Pakistan, any comments against the Islam or Allah or anything against Quran is considered as blasphemy. It is an extremely sensitive issue in this country as a small rumour can trigger violence.

However, rights organisation have often alleged that this is misused to settle personal issues. More importantly, religious minorities become victims in such cases.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up for the Chinese nationals working on Dasu hydropower project after a suicide bomb attack in 2021 that killed 13 people, including nine Chinese workers.

It may be recalled that a Sri Lankan national was lynched by angry mob at a factory in the eastern city of Sialkot in December 2021 over blasphemy.