Onlykashmir.in Web Desk
Two additional clauses of the PECA Act have been added to the list of alleged crimes against world-renowned reformist Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza. Police allege that the charges stem from a viral video in which Mirza allegedly made controversial religious statements during one of his online lectures.
The new charges include Section 295-A (outraging religious feelings), Section 298 (wounding religious sentiments), and Section 298-A (derogatory remarks against companions or family of the Prophet).
Legal experts note that this is not the first time Pakistan’s cybercrime and blasphemy laws have overlapped. In a recent similar case, YouTuber Rajab Butt faced combined charges under Section 295-A and PECA for naming a perfume “295,” which was perceived as mocking the blasphemy statutes.
Mirza, a prominent reformist in the Muslim world, is widely known for his critiques and for exposing fabricated stories in the name of Sufism. He enjoys a vast global following and has survived multiple assassination attempts by radical factions in Pakistan.
On August 25, Mirza was taken into custody under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, a preventive measure employed by law enforcement to deter potential unrest. His Quran-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum was sealed by local authorities, citing concerns over public order. He was subsequently shifted to District Jail as a precautionary measure.
According to official documents and media reports, a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the City Police Station in Jhelum on August 26 includes charges under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). This section mandates the death penalty or life imprisonment for blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He has also been charged under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, which addresses hate speech and the incitement of sectarian violence online.
As of Sunday (September 7), Mirza has been formally booked under blasphemy laws following allegations that he made disrespectful remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and misrepresented Qur’anic verses. Authorities confirmed that he has been moved from Jhelum District Jail District Jail Hafizabad under preventive detention orders.
Reports further suggest that police have also confiscated furniture and media equipment from Mirza’s rented academy, popularly known as “Darul Arqam.”
Meanwhile, scholars and YouTubers from various sects have condemned the booking of Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, cutting across sectarian divides. At the same time, some groups, allegedly acting at the behest of certain quarters, are reportedly spreading false news about his release in an attempt to deflect growing public demands for his freedom.
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