Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, a religious scholar, has been named in a new blasphemy FIR, though Punjab Police denied holding him in custody. The case was filed after a complaint regarding a video allegedly disrespectful to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) circulated online.
Mirza had been taken into preventative custody by Jhelum Police earlier this week under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance, following threats of sectarian violence. Police maintained that no criminal charges were initially filed against him.
Read more: Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza Arrested in Jhelum
The FIR, lodged under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, accuses Mirza of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet and spreading content that could incite sectarian or interfaith hate. Section 295-C carries the death penalty and fines, while PECA allows imprisonment of up to seven years and/or fines.
The complaint also refers to statements Mirza made regarding Surah al-Nisa in the video, which was uploaded on his YouTube channel with over three million subscribers. His centre, Qur’an-O-Sunnat Research Academy, has also been shut down by authorities.
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Mirza faced similar blasphemy accusations in 2023 related to comments about the Prophet and Ahmadis, but the charges were later dropped. Blasphemy laws in Pakistan remain a sensitive and controversial issue, with frequent calls to prevent their misuse.
