Who is Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, released on bail in blasphemy case?

ISLAMABAD: Religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, who was released on bail from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Friday after he was arrested in an alleged blasphemy case.

Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench Judge Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, approved his bail  stating that if no other case is pending against him, he should be released. His bail was granted against two surety bonds of Rs500,000 each. Mirza spent nearly three and a half months in jail.

The case against him was registered on August 26 at the City Police Station in Jhelum under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, following a complaint by a citizen. Before the case was officially registered, Mirza had already been placed under 3MP0 preventive detention by the Jhelum administration due to perceived threats to public peace.

The 3MP0 law gives authorities the power to detain individuals temporarily if they are considered a threat to public order. While such detention can be extended, it cannot exceed six months continuously, and detentions beyond three months require judicial oversight.

Jhelum police spokesperson Omar Saeed told the BBC Urdu that Mirza’s arrest in the blasphemy case was based on a request submitted to the District Police Officer of Jhelum. The request referred to statements he had made in a recent interview that allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims, prompting the complainant to seek legal action.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Jhelum, Chaudhry Shehbaz Hanjra said that he personally took Mirza into custody late at night and informed him of the allegations and the seriousness of the situation.

Who is Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza?

Known for his calm demeanor and soft-spoken style, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza is a prominent Pakistani religious scholar who often attracts attention for his non-traditional views. He was previously arrested in May 2020 on allegations of insulting religious figures but was later released by court order.

Due to his unconventional religious opinions, Mirza has survived multiple assassination attempts.

In March 2021, he was wounded in a knife attack on his arm but remained unharmed otherwise. He also survived a previous attempt in 2017.

Mirza, who hails from Jhelum, conducts lectures on various religious topics at his madrassa, engaging with people’s questions. His YouTube channel hosts over 2,471 videos, viewed millions of times, with more than 3.1 million subscribers.

Belonging to a middle-class background, Mirza is known for maintaining independence from any religious or political group, freely expressing his views. He identifies as sect-neutral, with his motto: “I am a Muslim, scholarly and rational.”

According to journalist Kalb Ali, Mirza’s arguments are rarely answered with reasoning; instead, critics target his personality. He often faces criticism from multiple sects, and at times is labeled an “agent” of other religious groups, yet millions continue to follow him for his unifying and rational approach.

Even though some critics reject his views, Mirza’s influence across social media demonstrates a substantial following that appreciates his reasoned and independent religious discourse.