Prominent religious scholar and YouTuber Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza was shifted to Adiala Jail on Thursday after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) completed initial legal procedures in the ongoing blasphemy case, according to Express News.
Authorities confirmed that Mirza, who was earlier detained under public order laws, has now been formally handed over to jail officials by NCCIA.
The case against him has been registered at the agency’s Rawalpindi office, with charges under Pakistan Penal Code Section 295-C and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Officials stated that investigations are still under way, and additional charges may be added if required.
Mirza was first arrested by Jhelum police last month under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). He was later shifted to jail custody, and eventually handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after a formal complaint was lodged.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the case is based on a video uploaded to Mirza’s YouTube channel, which the complainant alleges contained blasphemous remarks about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and a controversial interpretation of a Quranic chapter.
Section 295-C of the PPC stipulates the death penalty for defiling the name of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), along with a fine. Meanwhile, Section 11 of PECA criminalises content promoting sectarian or interfaith hatred, with punishments of up to seven years in prison and/or financial penalties.
Mirza is a well-known online preacher with over three million YouTube subscribers. He also runs the Qur’an-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum, which authorities have sealed. No official explanation has been issued yet for the closure of the academy.
The case continues to draw national attention, as legal proceedings move forward under Pakistan’s constitutional and legal framework.
