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CII Sparks Backlash After Declaring Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza Guilty of Blasphemy
CII sparks outrage after declaring scholar Engineer Ali Mirza guilty of blasphemy, urging harsh punishment. Journalists, activists & netizens question its authority.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-09-25
CII Sparks Backlash After Declaring Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza Guilty of Blasphemy

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) is under intense criticism after it declared religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza guilty of blasphemy and recommended severe punishment, calling his words “corruption on earth.”

On August 26, 2025, a blasphemy case under Section 295C was registered against Mirza in Jhelum, following his detention a day earlier under 3MPO on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner. He is currently in custody.

While his arrest had already sparked widespread debate, the CII’s statement has amplified controversy. The council also advised including provisions for “insulting the Quran” in the FIR against him.

The CII’s stance drew immediate pushback online. Journalists, activists, and ordinary users condemned the move, saying the council had overstepped its mandate and fueled extremism.

Journalist Sibi Kazmi commented:

“You can disagree with Engineer Ali Mirza as much as you want, but he is not arrogant. He calls himself a lover of the Prophet (PBUH) and a servant of the Prophet’s family. This fatwa is unjustified.”

Another journalist, Ahmed Warraich, noted:

“I have disagreed with Mirza Sahib’s style of speaking, but declaring him a criminal without listening to him is inappropriate.”

Lawyer and activist Jalila Haider warned that the misuse of blasphemy allegations could spiral out of control:

“If this continues, then no cleric of any sect will be out of jail.”

On social media, many users accused the CII of hypocrisy, pointing out that the council had reversed its ruling on bank withholding tax in the very same meeting — from un-Islamic to permissible.

In its written statement, the CII said Mirza’s words were “blasphemous without religious purpose” and that quoting such statements is only justified in limited contexts such as testimony, education, or rebuttal. The council also announced it would write to Pakistan’s Christian community to verify whether certain controversial remarks attributed to their texts reflected their official stance.

Background on Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza

Mirza, based in Jhelum, is a popular religious scholar with over 3.1 million YouTube subscribers and more than 2,471 videos published. Known for rejecting sectarian labels, he identifies simply as “a Muslim, scholarly and bookish.”

Despite his popularity, he has long been a polarizing figure. He was previously arrested in 2020 on similar allegations but later released by the court. He has also survived multiple assassination attempts, including a stabbing in 2021 and an earlier attack in 2017.

According to police, the latest case stems from a citizen’s complaint alleging that his remarks during an interview had “hurt religious sentiments.” Authorities argue that his speeches are provocative and could “incite communal division and hatred.”

The legal and public debate surrounding Mirza’s detention and the CII’s ruling highlights the fragile balance between religious interpretation, free speech, and state authority in Pakistan.
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