Religious scholar and YouTube cleric Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza was released from Adiala jail on Friday, two days after the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench approved his bail in a blasphemy case registered in Jhelum. His release followed the submission of required surety bonds, completing the legal process mandated by the court.
Bail Granted After Detailed Hearing at LHC Rawalpindi Bench
Mirza had approached the LHC Rawalpindi Bench seeking bail in the case filed against him. His petition was heard on December 3 by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, who listened to arguments presented by Mirza’s counsel, Advocate Tahir Ayubi.
Ayubi argued that the charges were unfounded and that Mirza had been detained unfairly. After reviewing the arguments, the court accepted the bail plea, directing Mirza to submit two surety bonds of Rs500,000 each. The court made it clear that the bail would only take effect once the sureties were deposited.
With the formalities completed, authorities released Mirza from Adiala jail earlier today, ending his more than three-month-long detention.
Background of the Case and Previous Arrest
A blasphemy FIR had been registered against Mirza in Jhelum, prompting him to seek protective legal relief. He was arrested on August 26 under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) 1960, a provision that allows authorities to detain individuals considered a threat to public safety or public order.
Police later confirmed that the case also included charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, a law dealing with blasphemy-related offences.
Mirza is one of Pakistan’s most prominent and controversial religious speakers, with over 3.14 million YouTube subscribers and more than 2,400 videos on his channel. His commentary on religious issues has regularly drawn both strong support and sharp criticism.
This is not the first time the cleric has faced threats. In 2021, he survived an assassination attempt during a weekly lecture when assailants stabbed him, leaving him injured but alive.
With his release now complete, Mirza is expected to resume his public engagements while the legal proceedings in the blasphemy case continue to unfold.
