Engineer Muhammad Mirza shifted to Adiala Jail

ISLAMABAD: In a recent development, Engineer Mirza Muhammad Ali, arrested in a blasphemy case, has been shifted to Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.

According to the report, Mirza Muhammad Ali was handed over to the jail authorities by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority (NCCIA) staff.

A case has been registered against Mirza Muhammad Ali in the NCCIA Rawalpindi. Sources said that a case has been registered against Mirza Muhammad Ali in the NCIA under the blasphemy and PECA Act.

Earlier, a local court in Rawalpindi 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.

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).