The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended the Council of Islamic Ideology’s (CII) opinion that had declared religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza guilty of blasphemy. The suspension of verdict will remain in place until the court’s next hearing.
In a written order issued by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, the court halted the implementation of the CII’s advisory opinion after it was formally challenged.
The petition was filed by Dr. Aslam Khaki, who argued that the council’s opinion had exceeded its advisory mandate and required judicial scrutiny. The court acknowledged the petitioner's concerns and directed that the CII’s opinion would stay suspended while the matter is examined further.
The case has drawn national attention due to its sensitivity and the broader debate surrounding the limits of advisory bodies, religious interpretation, and legal due process.
The IHC will resume hearing the case in the coming weeks as it reviews the legal questions raised regarding the council’s authority and the implications of its opinion.