The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has issued a serious ruling against religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza. The body declared him guilty of blasphemy after reviewing his controversial remarks and recommended severe punishment.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by CII Chairman Allama Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi. Senior members including Justice (R) Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Rashid, and Sahibzada Peer Khalid Sultan Qadri participated. The members discussed a complaint filed by the FIA cybercrime wing and examined evidence before announcing their findings.
According to the council, some of Muhammad Ali Mirza’s statements amounted to insulting the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and misinterpreting the Holy Quran. His repeated use of offensive words was categorized as “fasad fil ardh” (corruption on earth), which refers to spreading disorder in society.
In a rare move, the CII decided to consult Pakistan’s Christian community before finalizing a detailed verdict. This step aims to examine whether Mirza’s controversial words also clash with the beliefs of other faith groups.
Authorities arrested Muhammad Ali Mirza on August 26 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. His arrest followed a viral video in which he made disputed remarks. Soon after, his religious academy in Jhelum’s Machine Mohalla was sealed to avoid unrest.
Despite facing legal action, Mirza remains a popular online figure. He has over 3.1 million YouTube subscribers, which has brought greater attention to his case. This is not his first controversy.
In the past, he survived assassination attempts due to his outspoken views. Supporters claim he encourages independent thinking in religion, while critics accuse him of crossing Islamic boundaries.
The CII meeting also addressed other national issues. It declared the withholding tax on bank withdrawals un-Islamic and rejected amendments to the diyat law.
Members stressed that traditional Shariah standards like gold, silver, and camels should remain for compensation. The council also advised against using insulin made from pork if halal alternatives exist and called for respect toward sacred texts during court proceedings.
The case of Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza remains one of Pakistan’s most sensitive religious matters. With the CII’s ruling, the issue has entered a critical stage and will be closely followed by scholars, legal experts, and the wider public.
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