Fugitive Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik On Month-Long Pakistan Tour, Meets PM Shehbaz Sahrif

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, with Sharif praising Naik's lectures as "insightful and impactful."

Naik, who fled India in 2016 after being accused of money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches, was granted permanent residency in Malaysia under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed.

Naik posted about his meeting with Sharif on X, sharing a picture of the two.

Shehbaz Sharif commended Naik's efforts, stating, "Islam is a religion of peace, and you are doing an important duty by spreading the true message of Islam among people." He also highlighted Naik's popularity, particularly among younger audiences, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.

Upon his arrival at New Islamabad Airport, Naik was welcomed by senior government officials, including Rana Mashhood, Chairman of the Pakistan Prime Minister's Youth Program, and Syed Atta-ur-Rehman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, as reported by The Express Tribune.

Naik is on a month-long tour of Pakistan, during which he will participate in public events and meet with senior government officials.

He is accompanied by his son, Fariq Naik, also an Islamic scholar, who will join him in giving lectures across the country.

Zakir Naik's team posted on X, announcing the schedule for the tour: "On the invitation of the Government of Pakistan Dr Zakir Naik & Shaikh Fariq Naik's Pakistan Tour 2024 Public Talks: Karachi - 5th & 6th Oct, Lahore - 12th & 13th Oct, Islamabad - 19th & 20th Oct."

This is Naik's first visit to Pakistan in three decades, the last being in 1992. Naik remains wanted in India under a 2016 money laundering case and is accused of inciting hatred through his speeches.

His channel, PeaceTV, has been banned in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and Naik has been denied entry to Canada and the United Kingdom due to the controversial nature of his speeches.

(with agency inputs)