Attack outside popular cleric’s academy leaves gunman dead in Pakistan’s Jhelum

An attack targeting prominent religious scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza took place outside his Qur’an-o-Sunnat Research Academy in Jhelum, Pakistan, leaving one alleged attacker dead and a police officer injured, according to police.

The incident happened shortly after Mirza’s weekly lecture, police sources said. Security had been increased at the venue following an earlier attack on Feb. 15.

A spokesperson for the District Police Officer in Jhelum said the situation escalated when an unidentified assailant opened fire outside the academy.

Police personnel responded immediately, leading to an exchange of fire in which the attacker was killed, the spokesperson said. One police officer was injured.

Authorities said investigations were underway to determine the attacker’s identity and possible motive. Further details would be shared as they emerge.

Mirza was unharmed in the latest attack, police said. He was also unharmed in the earlier Feb. 15 incident, when a man was arrested for allegedly attacking him at the same venue after a lecture.

Mirza, a resident of Machine Mohallah in Jhelum city, regularly uploads lectures and speeches on social media. His YouTube channel has more than three million followers.

Mirza also survived an assassination attempt at a religious academy in March 2021. Police said the suspect was taken into custody and a case of attempted murder was registered.

He was also booked and arrested by Jhelum police in May 2020 over derogatory remarks against some religious figures, before later being released on bail.