Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday came to defence of Chinese nationals, who assaulted the police officials in Khanewal, saying that “they are guests and even Pakistani nationals get into fights in Middle Eastern countries”.

“Chinese nationals are our guests and they are working for the development of the country. Whosoever takes law into their own hands will be punished, but these kind of incidents happen everywhere, even Pakistanis get into fights in Khaleej countries,” Ahsan said while speaking to the media in Islamabad.

On Wednesday, Chinese engineers assaulted police in Khanewal after they were not allowed to leave the camp. According to the police, the Chinese nationals thrashed the security officials for refusing to let them go to a ‘red light’ area.

Referring to the Tehreek-e-Labaik sit-in in Lahore, the interior minister said that Dharnas are a hindrance in way of development and are damaging for the country’s global image.

“The matter of the finality of the Prophethood is not just of TLYR’s concern. It is significant to every Muslim around the world and every Muslim would sacrifice their life for the cause,” Iqbal said.

Ahsan continued that to divide the country on religious grounds and to portray Khatm-e-Nabuwat as a political cause is dangerous for Pakistan’s progress. “Enemies want to label Pakistan as religious extremists,” he added.

He also requested leaders of political and religious factions from the country to refrain from mudslinging and urged them to not ‘raise the political temperature’.