ISLAMABAD – Another twist in most hyped blasphemy saga, as Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court declared Sessions Court’s decision to reject the bail of religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza null and void.
Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan ordered that all records and documents be reviewed again, ruling historic first where a bail rejection in a blasphemy case has been sent back for reconsideration.
Ali Mirza’s lawyer, Advocate Dr. Tahir Ayyubi sheds light on unprecedented nature of this decision, saying, “This is the first time in a blasphemy case that the High Court has returned a bail rejection decision and ordered a fresh hearing.”
The drama escalates further in the Islamabad High Court, where a hearing took place on Mirza’s petition seeking the annulment of the resolution declaring him guilty of blasphemy. The Islamic Ideological Council has so far failed to submit a written response, prompting the court to give it a final one-week ultimatum to file its reply.
Meanwhile, Engineer Mirza filed miscellaneous application to become a party to the case, but the Registrar’s Office raised objections, preventing the application from being heard. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked that these objections must be resolved first, after which a decision on Mirza becoming a party would be made. He added pointedly that if action is being taken based on the council’s opinion, then all blasphemy cases should also be referred to the same council.
Mirza’s lawyer, Dr. Aslam Khaki, argued that the Islamic Ideological Council has passed beyond its authority, as it is legally empowered to give opinions only upon requests from the President or Governor. Justice Kayani, with sarcasm, remarked, “Perhaps now they have even been given investigative powers.”
The legal battle intensified as Mirza’s team requested that the resolution passed against him by the council be suspended. However, the court clarified that an interim order cannot be issued until the council files its response.
Top Islamic body recommends Severe Punishment for Engineer Ali Mirza over ‘blasphemy’
