By ABDULLAH A Rawalpindi court has handed over controversial religious scholar and YouTuber Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a seven-day physical remand in connection with a high-profile blasphemy case.
The decision was issued by Senior Civil Judge Waqar Hussain Gondal after FIA officials presented Mirza under strict security at the district courts on Friday. The court has directed investigators to complete interrogation and present him again on September 19.
Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, a well-known online preacher with over three million YouTube subscribers, has long been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken views on religious and sectarian matters.
This latest case stems from a video allegedly uploaded on Mirza’s YouTube channel, in which he is accused of making blasphemous remarks about the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and misinterpreting verses from Surah al-Nisa.
The First Information Report (FIR), lodged at the Jhelum City Police Station, invokes some of Pakistan’s most serious laws, including:
- Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) – which carries the death penalty for defiling the name of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
- Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 – which criminalizes online content that incites sectarian or interfaith hatred, carrying a punishment of up to seven years imprisonment and/or fines.
Authorities also revealed that Mirza had earlier been detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) before being moved to jail and later handed over to the FIA.
Mirza’s court appearance was marked by tight security, with police and FIA teams ensuring no untoward incidents occurred. His research center, the Qur’an-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum, has been sealed by local authorities, though no official explanation has been provided.
Supporters of Mirza are voicing concerns over what they see as repeated attempts to silence him. On the other hand, several religious groups have strongly condemned his remarks, with some clerics demanding strict action under blasphemy laws.
This is not the first time Engineer Mirza has faced such charges:
- 2020: He was accused of making derogatory statements about religious scholars, though later released on bail.
- 2021: He survived an assassination attempt at his academy, narrowly escaping harm when an attacker injured one of his followers.
- 2023: He was booked under blasphemy charges for remarks on the Prophet (PBUH) and his alleged views on the Ahmadi community. The case, however, was eventually dropped.
These repeated controversies have made Mirza both a highly followed online preacher and a frequent target of criticism in Pakistan’s conservative religious landscape.
Blasphemy is one of the most sensitive and polarizing issues in Pakistan. Human rights groups have long raised concerns over its misuse for personal vendettas, political rivalries, or sectarian disputes.
Legal experts point out that Section 295-C of the PPC is among the most severe laws in the world, as it carries a mandatory death penalty. Cases under this law often spark public protests, violent clashes, and social unrest.
The inclusion of PECA 2016’s Section 11 highlights another dimension – the state’s increasing crackdown on digital speech and online commentary. With Mirza’s massive following on YouTube, this case is being closely watched to see how far the government and judiciary go in regulating controversial online content.
The FIA has been given until September 19 to complete its interrogation. After that, Mirza will be presented again before the court, where the judge will decide whether to extend his remand, send him to jail, or proceed with trial.
Meanwhile, debates continue across social media platforms, television talk shows, and religious gatherings, with public opinion sharply divided.
Some Pakistanis view this as a necessary legal action to protect religious sanctities. Others see it as yet another example of how blasphemy laws are being weaponized to suppress dissenting voices.
Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza’s case once again underlines the delicate balance between freedom of speech, religious sensitivity, and state law in Pakistan.
As the FIA continues its probe, and with Mirza’s past controversies resurfacing, this case is likely to dominate headlines in the coming weeks. Whether it leads to a full trial or another eventual dismissal, one thing is clear: Pakistan’s blasphemy debate remains unresolved and continues to test the country’s judicial, political, and social structures.