Cleric Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza arrested; academy sealed

JHELUM: Popular cleric and self-styled religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza has been taken into custody from his academy.

Sources claim that officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) raided his academy in Machine Mohalla, Jhelum, and arrested Mirza over a controversial religious statement.

There are also reports that Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza was detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) on the orders of Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Syed Maysam Abbas.

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza arrested from Jhelum by National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. pic.twitter.com/W3qs0EQUXa

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According to sources, the cleric was shifted to jail, while his academy was sealed. They said the move was aimed at maintaining law and order.

Why Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza arrested?

Authorities have not issued any official statement on why he was taken into custody.

However, sources said that another relious scholar had filed a comaplint against Mirza, accusing him of committing blasphemy.

According to the complaint, filed by Mufti Dr Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza allegedly committed blasphemy by giving derogatory remarks against Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during a video posted online.

Additionally, a religious ruling (fatwa) issued by Darul Ifta Markazi Sirat-e-Mustaqeem is also circulating on social media, levelling the same blasphemy accusations against Mirza.

Mirza survives murder attemp

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza is known for delivering online lectures on a wide range of social and religious topics. His popularity largely stems from his candid discussions on sensitive issues.

With 3.1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, this is not the first time Mirza has been arrested.

In May 2020, Jhelum police detained him under Section 153-A after an old controversial lecture went viral online. The section applies to individuals accused of hate speech or incitement. He was later released on court orders two days after his arrest.

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Mirza also survived an attack in March 2021, when an unknown assailant attempted to stab him at his academy. The attacker was later arrested, while Mirza sustained minor injuries.