PESHAWAR: A Chinese engineer working at the Dasu hydropower project in Pakistan has been placed under police protection after workers accused him of making blasphemous remarks against Islam.
The engineer, identified as “Mr Tian,” was reportedly highlighting the slow pace of work during Ramadan when the workers, who were fasting, denied that work had slowed down. This led to an exchange of heated words between the workers and Mr Tian.
The labourers later accused the engineer of making blasphemous remarks, which sparked tensions, and approximately 400 locals gathered to protest.
Blasphemy is a very sensitive issue in Pakistan, where even rumours of sacrilegious remarks can incite public uproar and agitation.
The Chinese citizen has been taken to a safe place as a precautionary measure, according to Muhammad Nazir, a police official in Dasu.
The project site is being guarded by the army and paramilitary troops to ensure the safety of the engineers.
The Chinese embassy in Islamabad has not yet commented on the incident. The Dasu Dam project construction contract was awarded to the Chinese Gezhouba Group Company in 2017, and tight security measures shrouded the hydel project.
Chinese firms in Pakistan
Several Chinese firms have taken on lucrative infrastructure contracts in Pakistan despite the security risks to Chinese nationals.
Blasphemy is a punishable offense in Pakistan, though no executions have been carried out in the country for the crime.
“Formal police action” has not yet been taken against the Chinese national in Dasu as authorities are trying to resolve the issue peacefully, according to Nazir.
Local clerics and village elders also negotiate with the workers to resolve the issue.
