Zakir Naik will not be extradited to India says Malaysian PM

Putrajaya, July 6: Zakir Naik will not be extradited to India, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad said on Friday. "As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent residency status," the Malaysian PM said at a pressconference.

The statement comes in the wake of India seeking the extradition of Naik who has been booked by the National Investigation Agency. Earlier this week Naik had denied reports that he was planning his report to India. He said that he did not believe he would get a fair trial in India. He is currently in Puttrajaya, where he has been given a permanent residency status.

A media report in India had said that he is likely to be extradited, but Naik had said that he felt unsafe from unfair prosecution. India has said that it had made a formal extradition request. The latest statements could be a stumbling block for India, but officials say that the process would continue. India has an extradition treaty with Malaysia and would continue to pursue the case.