Haji Muhammad Sharif, head of Darul Uloom Mohi-ul-Islam Siddiqia, has been granted bail by a court but has not yet been released from Adiala Jail, according to local reporting from Rawalpindi.
The court is understood to have approved his bail and issued orders for his release.
However, Sharif remained in custody at Adiala Jail on September 23.
The reason for the delay was not immediately clear.
Release Has Not Yet Taken Place
Normally, once bail has been granted and the necessary legal and administrative formalities have been completed, a detainee is released from custody.
In Sharif’s case, that process had not yet resulted in his release.
No immediate explanation was available for whether the delay related to paperwork, another legal matter, administrative processing or any other outstanding issue.
Further details are awaited.
Sharif Was Sent To Adiala Jail Earlier This Month
The development comes after Sharif was sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand alongside Asim Sharif and Qari Imran.
The three were presented before Kallar Syedan Area Magistrate Sidra-ul-Nisa after the expiry of their physical remand.
Prosecutors sought further physical remand, but the court declined the request and ordered that they be sent to jail on judicial remand.
At that stage, all six individuals accused in connection with the case had been transferred to Adiala Jail.
Case Concerns Death Of Muhammad Faizan
The case relates to the death of Muhammad Faizan, a young boy who had been studying at a religious seminary in Nalla Muslimana, Kallar Syedan.
Faizan’s father, Muhammad Sultan, has alleged that his son was subjected to physical violence after failing to memorise a lesson.
The allegations are contained in the police case and remain subject to investigation and court proceedings.
Family Says Faizan Was Returned Dead
Faizan’s father previously said Qari Sanaullah Chishti had promised to provide the child with food, accommodation and religious education at the seminary.
Around three months later, according to the family, Sanaullah accompanied Faizan’s body back to Bhakkar.
Relatives said they noticed marks and welts on the child’s body while preparing him for burial.
An FIR was subsequently registered at Kallar Syedan police station.
Father Alleges Beating Before Death
According to the FIR, Muhammad Sultan alleged that Sanaullah admitted beating Faizan because he had failed to memorise his lesson.
The father further alleged that the boy’s condition deteriorated afterwards.
The FIR states that on August 24, Sanaullah contacted the family and told them Faizan was unwell and that they should go to District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi.
A relative who went to the hospital was later told the boy had been brought there dead.
These allegations have not been proven in court.
Questions Over Medical Treatment And Delay
The case has also raised questions over what happened between the alleged assault and Faizan’s death.
The father has alleged that attempts were made to conceal the seriousness of the boy’s condition and that treatment was delayed.
Local reporting has suggested that private practitioners were consulted during the period between the alleged beating and Faizan’s death, although the full medical timeline has not been independently established.
Faizan’s body was later taken to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kallar Syedan for a post-mortem examination.
Reports Of Fractures And Severe Injuries
Police previously described multiple marks on Faizan’s body which they said were consistent with severe physical assault.
Later reporting, citing a senior police officer and members of the family, said the post-mortem examination found multiple fractures to one of the boy’s arms as well as extensive marks from alleged beating.
BPI News has not independently seen the signed post-mortem report.
Other Individuals Named In FIR
The FIR also names a number of other individuals in connection with the events surrounding Faizan’s condition and movement between different seminary branches.
According to the father’s complaint, Sanaullah contacted Hamza Tayyab, who was said to be in charge at Nalla Muslimana.
The complaint alleges that Hamza said he would inform administrator Asim Sharif.
It further alleges that instructions were then relayed involving Qari Imran at another branch and that Faizan was later taken with Sanaullah to Ghulam Mujtaba at a seminary branch in the Gujar Khan area.
The exact roles of the individuals named in the case remain matters for investigation and the courts.
Sharif Previously Did an Interview
BPI News previously reviewed an interview in which Haji Muhammad Sharif discussed the case and rejected allegations that seminary management had deliberately concealed Faizan’s condition.
Sharif said he oversees approximately 35 seminaries and claimed that between 1,500 and 1,600 children study across them.
Those figures have not been independently audited by BPI News.
He said he was in Britain when the alleged beating took place and returned to Pakistan on August 22.
Sharif said he was informed about the matter only after returning and initially believed the injuries were minor.
He also said he never personally saw Faizan while the boy was injured.
Sharif Blamed Sanaullah For Restricting Access
Sharif alleged that Sanaullah prevented others from fully understanding the seriousness of Faizan’s injuries.
He acknowledged that his son, Asim Sharif, had been informed about the situation and said Asim had asked people closer to the seminary to check on the child.
Sharif’s account differs from the allegations made by Faizan’s father, who has accused those involved of delaying treatment and concealing the seriousness of the boy’s condition.
Sharif Denied Settlement Allegation
Sharif also denied allegations that he or the seminary management attempted to offer the family a settlement.
He said he supported Faizan’s father and wanted anyone found responsible for the child’s death to be punished.
He also acknowledged links between the seminary network and donors in Britain, although BPI News has not established the identity of any specific charity or how any funding was allocated.
Bail Granted, But Case Continues
Sharif’s bail does not amount to an acquittal or finding on the merits of the allegations against him.
The case remains under investigation and before the courts.
His release from Adiala Jail had not taken place by September 23 despite the bail order.
