A well-known but controversial Islamic scholar, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, has been shifted to Adiala Jail under strict security following his arrest in a blasphemy case registered at Jhelum City Police Station on Thursday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Engineer Mirza was initially detained on August 25, 2025, under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) on the orders of the Jhelum Deputy Commissioner. His Qur’an-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum was also sealed to prevent gatherings.
The situation escalated on September 9, when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sought custody of Mirza. A Rawalpindi court, presided over by Senior Civil Judge Waqar Hussain Gondal, granted a seven-day physical remand, directing FIA investigators to complete their probe and present Mirza again on September 19.
The case accuses Mirza of posting a YouTube video containing blasphemous remarks about the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and misinterpretations of Surah al-Nisa.
The FIR includes charges under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which carries the death penalty, and Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which prescribes up to seven years in prison for spreading sectarian or interfaith hate.
Mirza, who commands a following of over three million YouTube subscribers, has long been a divisive figure in Pakistan’s religious circles. Authorities confirmed that his academy has been locked down, though no official explanation was provided for the measure.
This is not the first time Mirza has faced such allegations. In 2020 and 2023, he was similarly booked under blasphemy laws but later released after charges were either dropped or contested in court.
Reporter: Irshad Qureshi