Police in Jhelum have registered a case against religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza following his detention under the 3-MPO. The action was taken after growing complaints from various religious groups calling for legal measures against him.
A police spokesperson confirmed that a first information report (FIR) was lodged at the City Police Station on a citizen’s complaint. The case was registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and Section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with blasphemy-related offences.
Authorities have also sealed Mirza’s academy in Jhelum to prevent any possible unrest. In addition, heavy police deployment has been placed outside his residence and the academy to maintain order in the city.
The registration of the case followed shortly after Mirza’s detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance, widely known as 3-MPO. This section allows authorities to detain individuals for up to 30 days if they are considered a threat to public peace.
Mirza, who has gained wide recognition through his online lectures on religious and social issues, runs a YouTube channel with over 3.1 million subscribers. His lectures often draw both support and criticism, with strong reactions from different religious groups.
This is not the first time the scholar has faced danger. In March 2021, he narrowly survived an assassination attempt when an attacker tried to stab him inside his academy. The assailant was arrested, while Mirza sustained minor injuries.
His latest detention and the registration of blasphemy charges have once again placed him at the center of a heated debate on religious freedom, public safety, and the use of preventive detention laws in Pakistan.
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