NEW DELHI: Islamist preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted by Indian authorities for alleged money laundering and incitement of extremism, arrived in Pakistan on Monday. Naik, who has been residing in Malaysia since 2016, was invited by the Pakistani government for a series of public engagements across the country.
Naik landed in Islamabad and was received by senior officials, including the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs. His visit, scheduled to last until October 28, has sparked significant attention and controversy due to his past allegations and inflammatory speeches.
During his month-long stay, Naik is scheduled to hold public talks in Karachi on October 5 and 6, Lahore on October 12 and 13, and Islamabad on October 19 and 20, according to a social media post on X. He announced his visit alongside his son, Shaikh Fariq Naik, and will also lead Friday prayers and meet with senior government officials.
Zakir Naik has been wanted by Indian authorities since 2016 for alleged involvement in money laundering and delivering hate speeches that incite extremism. Despite calls for his extradition, Malaysia has yet to hand him over to India. Naik’s arrival in Pakistan comes amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
The Indian government has repeatedly sought his extradition, accusing him of using his platform to incite violence and promote extremism. Despite these allegations, Naik continues to have a significant following and influence in various parts of the world.
During a visit to India last month, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commented on Naik’s extradition, stating that while Malaysia is open to the idea, any request must be backed by solid evidence. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not raised the issue during their recent talks.
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“We are open to any ideas and if evidence is submitted. We will not condone terrorism. But we have to produce a compelling case to support it. We have been tough. We’ve been working together with India on many of these issues against terrorism,” the Malaysian Prime Minister added.
Zakir Naik is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Peace TV. A prominent figure in the Islamic world, Naik does not align himself with any specific Islamic school of thought, though he is most commonly linked to the Salafi movement.
His television channel, Peace TV, has been banned in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom due to hate speech regulations.