A report in China Digital Times on October 9, 2018 claimed that Muslims in India and Bangladesh have condemned China for its ill-treatment of Muslims and incarcerating almost a million Muslims in 're-education' camps. The Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist group that claims a million members in 40 countries, called on Muslims this month to be wary of Chinese investment and to oppose Chinese rule in Xinjiang. On Saturday, the group accused Pakistan’s government of betraying the Uighurs for the sake of China’s infrastructure program in the country, known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC. The backlash in the Islamic world is more troubling for China as it could rally international support for the Uighurs and foment opposition to its “Belt and Road” infrastructure building initiative. Protest is also emerging from a group of businessmen in Pakistan who are traveling to Beijing to lobby the Pakistani embassy for the release of their Uyghur wives who are interned in re-education camps. Channel News Asia reported that the election of cricketing legend and firebrand nationalist Imran Khan as Pakistan’s prime minister has fed the expectations of many for him to deliver on promises to create jobs, build an Islamic welfare state and restore the country’s image abroad.
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