Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, wanted in India for alleged money laundering and hate speech charges, met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday during his visit to the country. Naik, who has been on the run since 2016, arrived in Pakistan on Monday amid tight security, invited by the Pakistani government for a month-long lecture tour.
Zakir Naik announced his meeting with Shehbaz Sharif via a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “Interaction with Prime Ministers Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” Naik’s visit, which includes public talks in major cities like Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, has been met with significant attention, especially given the security measures in place.
A video shared by Naik’s team showed his arrival at the New Islamabad Airport, where he was warmly welcomed by senior Pakistani 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. Naik’s son, Fariq Naik, an Islamic scholar, is accompanying him on the tour.
Interaction with Prime Ministers
Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan pic.twitter.com/LlIesTM2XO— Dr Zakir Naik (@drzakiranaik) October 2, 2024
Naik’s public engagements in Pakistan will take place in various cities: Karachi on October 5-6, Lahore on October 12-13, and Islamabad on October 19-20, according to a post on X by his team.
This visit comes as Zakir Naik remains wanted by Indian authorities on multiple charges. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has accused him of money laundering and inciting violence through his inflammatory speeches. His TV channel, PeaceTV, is banned in several countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, for promoting controversial content, and he has been denied entry into countries like Canada and the United Kingdom.
Zakir Naik has been residing in Malaysia, which has granted him permanent residency. However, during a visit to India in August 2023, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim indicated that if compelling evidence were presented in Naik’s case, Malaysia would not shield him from legal accountability, saying, “We will not condone terrorism.”
Naik’s presence in Pakistan has stirred debate, especially as his public lectures continue to draw attention amid ongoing legal and diplomatic challenges involving his extradition.
