Religious cleric and scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza was released from Adiala jail on Friday, following the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench’s approval of his bail in a blasphemy case registered in Jhelum.
Mirza had filed a bail petition before the Rawalpindi Bench, which was heard by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan on December 3. During the hearing, Mirza’s counsel, Tahir Ayubi, presented arguments supporting the plea. The court accepted the petition and ordered Mirza’s release after he submitted two surety bonds of Rs500,000 each, as mandated for the bail to take effect.
Blasphemy Case and Arrest Background
The cleric had been arrested on August 26 under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), 1960, which allows authorities to detain individuals to prevent actions prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of order. The case also includes charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Mirza, a prominent religious scholar with over 3.14 million YouTube subscribers and more than 2,400 videos, had sought protective relief following the registration of the FIR in Jhelum.
Past Threats and Public Profile
The cleric has previously faced security threats. In 2021, he survived an assassination attempt during one of his weekly lectures when he was stabbed by unidentified assailants. Despite such threats, he continues to maintain a significant online and public presence.
Following his release, Mirza is expected to comply with all bail conditions while continuing his religious and educational work.
