Blasphemy accused sent to jail

A Chinese national in Pakistan denied the accusation of blasphemy levelled by fellow workers at a hydropower project, police said on Tuesday, after a court remanded him to judicial custody.

The Chinese man was brought before a court late on Monday, where he said he had been falsely accused, police official Tahir Ayub told Reuters. The court sent the man to jail on 14-day remand, he said, adding that police were not identifying him for his own safety.

The alleged incident took place at the site of a hydropower project in the Kohistan district on Sunday. According to the police, workers accused the man of using derogatory remarks, police said.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said the mission in Islamabad was verifying the situation. “If this issue does involve a Chinese citizen, the embassy will provide consular protection and assistance within the scope of its duties.”

Wang told his news briefing on Tuesday: “The Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by the laws and regulations of the host country and respect local customs.”