The Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza has been granted bail by the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench in a blasphemy case.
The bench, presided over by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, ordered the cleric’s release on submission of two surety bonds, each for Rs 500,000. The ruling requires that the bonds be deposited before bail becomes effective.
The case against Mirza was lodged after a complaint filed in Jhelum, alleging that he made remarks that violated religious-sensibilities. The FIR includes charges under the relevant blasphemy provisions as well as electronic-crimes legislation.
In his bail petition, Mirza argued that the investigative process — including actions by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Punjab Quran Board — lacked due process, in particular raising objections to how a fatwa had been used against him without proper jurisdiction. The court’s bail decision reflects acknowledgement of these legal concerns while reserving judgment on the merits of the case for trial.