Chinese man charged with blasphemy in Pakistan after angry crowds gather: police

A Chinese worker was charged with blasphemy in northern Pakistan after angry workers surrounded his office accusing him of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, then stormed a police station to try to find him, officials said.

Police moved in as crowds gathered at the Dasu hydropower project in Kohistan district on Sunday afternoon and officers took the man to a safer location, police official Naseer-ud-Din Khan said.

4 months into 2023 & Pk #blasphemy lynch mobs are in action again. Mr Tian a Chinese national, incharge heavy transport at Dasu Dam Kohistan accused of blasphemy over reprimanding a driver for skipping work to pray. 295-C & terrorism charges in FIR, accused now in police custody. pic.twitter.com/wNsEqdXg73

— Rabia Mehmood - رابعہ (@Rabail26) April 17, 2023

Hundreds gathered again on Monday morning and stormed the main district police station, believing the man was hiding in the building, Khan added.

But officials, fearing the man might be attacked, had moved him to another district by military helicopter, Khan said. The man was charged and had so far declined to give a statement, police officials said.

Angry mob surrounds a Chinese citizen they have falsely accused of blasphemy in #Kohistan. The Chinese citizen is currently under police protection as the mob blocks roads, calling for violence against the foreigner.

Video via @Natsecjeff pic.twitter.com/nnwRL98D6X

— The Pakistan Daily (@ThePakDaily) April 16, 2023

Blasphemy is a crime under Pakistani law that can be punishable with death.

No one has ever been executed for it in Pakistan, but scores of people have been lynched after being accused of the crime, including a 23-year-old man in eastern Pakistan in February and a Sri Lankan factor manager in 2021.

Khan said the crowd attacked the police station as officers were preparing the prosecution paperwork on Monday. "The mob dispersed only after they were shown a copy of the case registered on blasphemy charges," he said.

Rights groups say hundreds of people are languishing in prison accused of blasphemy as judges delay trials, fearing retribution against themselves.

A suicide attack on a bus killed nine Chinese workers from the same hydropower site in 2021.

(Reuters)