Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza Arrested Under MPO in Jhelum

News Desk

Islamabad: Jhelum police have arrested renowned religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance.

Mirza was taken into custody from his Jhelum Academy and subsequently shifted to jail. The arrest follows a petition filed by religious parties and pressure from delegations of various scholars who met with the district administration on Monday, demanding action against him.

Officials confirmed that Mirza, a resident of Machine Mohallah in Jhelum city, was detained for 30 days under the MPO for allegedly making controversial remarks. The ordinance allows authorities to detain individuals suspected of acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety or disrupting public order.

Mirza, who has a significant online presence with 3.1 million followers on his YouTube channel, frequently uploads lectures and speeches. His recent remarks during an interview reportedly went viral on social media, prompting a religious group to file a formal application for legal action.

This is not Mirza’s first run-in with the law. In May 2020, he was booked and arrested by Jhelum police for derogatory remarks against certain religious figures but was later released on bail. Additionally, his speeches were banned by the then-Jhelum Deputy Commissioner last Muharram to prevent potential sectarian violence.

In March 2021, Mirza survived an assassination attempt at a religious academy, with the suspect apprehended and charged with attempted murder.

Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Meesam Abbas and District Police Officer Ahmed Mohiyuddin confirmed the detention to Dawn.com.