Metro53 - Rawalpindi (Web Desk) — The Rawalpindi Bench of the High Court has granted bail to religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza in a case related to alleged religious hatred and ordered his immediate release.
Justice Sadaqat Khan approved the bail on the condition that Mirza submit two surety bonds worth PKR 500,000 each.
The FIA Cyber Crime Wing had filed the case against Mirza for allegedly insulting sacred personalities. According to the FIA lawyer, a formal fatwa has already been issued against the accused. The court noted that the trial court would examine the fatwa, evidence, and details, and directed that only arguments regarding bail be presented at this stage.
Meanwhile, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza filed a petition in the Lahore High Court challenging the FIA’s investigation. Through Advocate Nabeel Javed Kahlon, Mirza included the FIA and Punjab Quran Board as respondents.
In the petition, he argued that the FIA initiated investigations without serving him proper notice and sent his video from social media to the Punjab Quran Board for a fatwa. He further contended that the Board based the fatwa on an old video, claiming he was guilty, and that the Board does not have authority to issue such fatwas, as its role is limited to the publication of the Quran.
The petition requests the court to annul the fatwa against the petitioner and halt the ongoing investigation.
