Rawalpindi court orders 7-day remand for Muhammad Ali Mirza in blasphemy allegations involving a YouTube video. FIA probing under PPC 295-C & PECA laws, next hearing set for September 19.
A Rawalpindi court has granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a seven-day physical remand of Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, a religious speaker embroiled in a high-profile blasphemy case. The Express Tribune
During a session on Friday, Senior Civil Judge Waqar Hussain Gondal ordered that Mirza remain in FIA custody while investigators complete their questioning, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for September 19. The Express Tribune
Muhammad Ali Mirza was initially arrested by the Jhelum police under the Maintenance of Public Order law and held in jail before the case was transferred to the FIA after blasphemy allegations led to its registration. The Express Tribune
The complaint cites a video on Mirza’s YouTube channel, claiming he committed blasphemous remarks regarding the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and misinterpreted verses of Surah an-Nisa. Charges include violating Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which can mandate the death sentence for insulting the Prophet, and Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), dealing with online sectarian or religious hate content. The Express Tribune
Authorities also sealed his Qur’an-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum, though they have not publicly given reasons for the action. Mirza has faced similar allegations in the past, including charges dropped in 2023. The Express Tribune
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