Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, one of the most popular yet highly controversial clerics in Pakistan’s history, has landed in real trouble.
Many believe he has rarely chosen his words carefully during his years-long journey as ‘preacher’, ‘Islamic historians’ and more recently a ‘political critic’. And they link this harsh reality to his latest problem.
Police on Tuesday registered a blasphemy case against Engineer Mirza after arresting him from his home in Jehlum, district of Punjab, on Monday night.
Reaction:
The state, said Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, should have taken action against Mirza long ago. But, added the Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman, better late than never. This man (Engineer Mirza), he claimed, endangered the lives of Christians in Pakistan. “His tongue had grown far too loose. Let the law take its course.”
A campaign for his arrest under blasphemy charges had already begun after Engineer Mirza’s ‘controversial remarks in video’. Maulana Ashraf Asif Jalali, a Lahore based religious scholar, even issued a decree against Engineer Mirza, declaring him an ‘apostate’ (murtad).
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi:
Renowned scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamidi has called for a cautious and balanced approach regarding the controversy surrounding Engineer Mirza.
“I do not believe any Muslim can deliberately use disrespectful words about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). But, he added, everyone, (including Engineer Mirza), should choose words carefully when referring to someone’s words about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“I believe followers of other faiths, including Jews and Christians, do not have any disrespect toward the last Messenger of God,” he said. It is duty of scholars, he emphasised, to guide individuals, (including Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza), to exercise great care in their expression to avoid misunderstandings.
Arrest and FIR:
Dawn report quoting Jhelum police stated that police detained the cleric for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance for alleged controversial remarks and later booked him under blasphemy charges.
“Police registered a blasphemy case against Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza over his ‘controversial’ remarks in a video,’ Pakistan media reported minutes after the development.
The FIR registered against him in City Police Station, Jehlum, on the complaint of Humair Ali Qadri. He is a resident of Naik Abad, Gujrat, Punjab. Qadri described himself as member of the shura of Aalmi Tanzeem Ahlesunnat. Tanzeem is religious organisation representing Islam’s Brelvi school of thought.
Police registered the FIR against Engineer Mirza under Section 295c of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The section refers to blasphemy law that mandates the death penalty or life imprisonment for anyone who defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), holy Quran and other sanctities of Islam.
Following his detention on Monday night, the authorities also sealed his academy.
Introduction:
Muhammad Ali Mirza is particularly popular on social media across Pakistan. His official YouTube channel has 3.1 million followers where he posted around 2.4k videos. He also runs a website ahlesunnatpak.com.
His introduction on the web reads: “Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza chose to discuss all the controversial issues among the Muslims and with the true references of Quran and Sahih Hadith he concluded the problems which were hidden by the Islamic Scholars.”
