Pakistan on Thursday defended its close ally China against a growing outcry over Muslims who are being detained by Chinese authorities, saying the issue was being "sensationalised" by foreign media. "Some section of foreign media are trying to sensationalise the matter by spreading false information," Mohammad Faisal, spokesman for ministry of foreign affairs, told reporters at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.
"As per Chinese authorities, out of 44 women, six are already in Pakistan. Four have been convicted on various charges, three are under investigations, eight are undergoing voluntary training. Twenty-three women are free and living in Xinjiang of their own free will," he added.
In recent years, Pakistan has heavily pushed its relationship with China, lauding the tens of billions of investment dollars that Beijing is pouring into the country as a "game changer".
Beijing has also upgraded the treacherous mountain road connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to Xinjiang. Faisal said his ministry and Chinese authorities will continue to coordinate on this matter. "The Chinese authorities have also offered to arrange visits to Xinjiang of the families of the convicted women," said Faisal.
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