Religious scholar Engineer Mirza Muhammad Ali. Photo: File
The Rawalpindi Bench of the High Court on Wednesday approved the bail of religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza in a case alleging religious hatred, ordering his immediate release.
Justice Sadaqat Khan granted bail on the condition that Mirza submits two surety bonds worth Rs500,000 each. The case was registered by the FIA Cyber Crime Wing, which has accused him of insulting revered religious personalities.
During the hearing, the FIA’s counsel informed the court that a religious decree (fatwa) had been issued against Mirza, but the judge directed the counsel to place any such document before the trial court, noting that the High Court would only examine arguments relevant to bail. He observed that all evidence, details, and religious decrees were matters for the trial court to assess.
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Meanwhile, Mirza has filed a separate petition in the Lahore High Court challenging the FIA’s investigation. Filed through Advocate Nabeel Javed Kahlon, the petition names the FIA and the Punjab Quran Board as respondents.
Mirza contends that the FIA initiated an investigation without issuing him a notice. He states that the agency forwarded a social-media video to the Punjab Quran Board for a fatwa. The petition claims the Board declared him culpable based on an old video, despite lacking the authority to issue any religious decree, as its mandate is limited to overseeing the publication of the Quran.
He requests the court to annul the fatwa issued against him and order an end to the investigation.
Mirza was first detained in August under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) by Jhelum police. He was later moved to jail before being handed over to the FIA following the registration of a blasphemy case.
The FIR, lodged at the Jhelum City Police Station, alleges that a video circulating online—originally posted to Mirza’s YouTube channel—contains blasphemous remarks about the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and a misinterpretation of Surah al-Nisa. The complainant maintains that the video is offensive and violates Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
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The case carries charges under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which mandates the death penalty for defiling the name of the Prophet (PBUH), and Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which pertains to content inciting sectarian or interfaith hatred.
Section 295-C states that anyone who directly or indirectly defiles the sacred name of the Prophet (PBUH) shall be punished with death and may also be liable to a fine. Section 11 of PECA provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine.
Mirza, a prominent online figure with more than three million YouTube subscribers, heads the Qur’an-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum. The facility had been sealed by local authorities, though no official reason was given.
