Blasphemy case: Engr Muhammad Ali Mirza remanded in NCCIA custody for seven days

Jhelum: Self-styled and controversial religious scholar, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, a resident of Jhelum, has been remanded in the custody of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for seven days in a blasphemy case.

According to sources, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza was initially detained on 26 August on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Jhelum under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and confined in the district jail.

Subsequently, following a complaint lodged by a worker of a religious organisation, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him at Jhelum City Police Station under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

In the latest development, the accused was transferred to Rawalpindi under strict security arrangements, where he was produced before Senior Civil Judge Waqar Hussain Gondal at the request of the NCCIA.

The court approved his remand until 18 September and directed the NCCIA to complete its investigation and present the accused again on 19 September.

NCCIA sources have confirmed that the investigation is currently underway.