Gunman opened fire outside Mirza’s academy; security constable wounded in the foot, now out of danger, police say
Religious Scholar Engineer Mirza Muhammad Ali. Photo: File
Religious engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza survived an attack outside the Quran-o-Sunnah Research Academy in Jhelum on Sunday. The attacker was killed in police firing, while a policeman was injured.
Police spokesman Kashif Kiani said Mirza was present outside the research academy, where Mirza regularly gives lectures, when a man entered the premises armed with a 9 mm pistol, lay on the ground and opened fire.
Kiani confirmed that a police constable, part of the scholar’s security team, was injured during the attack. The policeman was shot in the foot and shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Jhelum, where he was declared out of danger.
SSP Chaudhry Shafiq said police returned fire and killed the attacker on the spot. He said Mirza remained unharmed during the incident, adding that security was already in place at the time of the attack and would be further beefed up. He further said that help would be sought from the National Database and Registration Authority to identify the attacker.
Read also: Court grants Engr Muhammad Ali Mirza bail in blasphemy case
The incident took place within the jurisdiction of City police station in Jhelum. Police said the gunman opened fire when officers tried to stop him.
Last year in December, the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court granted bail to religious scholar engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza in a case alleging religious hatred and ordered his immediate release.
Justice Sadaqat Khan granted bail on the condition that Mirza submit two sureties worth Rs500,000 each. The case was registered by the FIA Cyber Crime Wing, which has accused him of insulting revered religious personalities.
Mirza was first detained in August under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) by the Jhelum police. He was later moved to jail before being handed over to the FIA following the registration of a blasphemy case.
