Police on Tuesday arrested renowned religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO).
According to police, Mirza was taken into custody by officials of the City Police Station on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner Jhelum and later shifted to jail. Authorities also sealed his academy following the arrest.
The action came after formal complaints were lodged by several religious groups. Earlier in the day, delegations of clerics met with district officials, pressing for action against the scholar.
Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, who has 3.1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, is known for delivering online lectures on social and religious issues. His outspoken style has often attracted controversy.
This is not the first time Mirza has faced arrest. In May 2020, Jhelum police detained him under Section 153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code after a controversial lecture resurfaced online. He was later released on court orders two days after his arrest.
