Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza sent on seven-day physical remand

RAWALPINDI: A local court in Rawalpindi on Friday approved a seven-day physical remand of cleric and self-proclaimed religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza in a suspected case of blasphemy.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented Mirza before Senior Civil Judge Waqar Hussain Gondal, who sanctioned the physical remand.

The court ordered the FIA to carry out the investigation and bring the accused before it again on September 19.

The FIA detained Mirza following a raid at his academy at Machine Mohalla, Jhelum, late in the night of August 25 or early on August 26.

Subsequently, he was booked under the blasphemy law under a case filed against him for allegedly making insulting comments regarding the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and “misrepresenting” portions of the Holy Qur’an. He was later shifted to Jhelum District Jail under the orders of preventive detention.

According to official documents, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him at the City Police Station in Jhelum under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment for blasphemy against the Prophet (PBUH).

He was also booked under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which addresses hate speech and incitement of sectarian violence online.

Mirza was arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, a precaution taken to preclude possible unrest. His Qur’an-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum was also sealed on grounds of public order.

Subsequently, more provisions were added to the FIR against Mirza. The police stated the charges arose from a viral video where he had made controversial statements in an online lecture. The clip faced criticism on social media and protests across cities, calling for legal action.

The fresh charges were under Section 295-A (intentional acts likely to outrage religious feelings), Section 298 (speaking words wounding the religious sentiments), and Section 298-A (derogatory remarks concerning the companions or relatives of the Prophet).

Sources revealed that Mufti Dr Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali had filed a complaint against Mirza, blaming him for blasphemy. A fatwa by Darul Ifta Markazi Sirat-e-Mustaqeem also accused him of a similar offense.