Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, wanted for alleged money laundering charges, arrived in Pakistan on Monday morning, invited by the Government of Pakistan. He will be conducting a lecture series across Pakistan in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore under tight security. Naik’s son, Fariq Naik, an Islamic scholar, is accompanying him for the tour.
According to ‘The Express Tribune’, Naik is scheduled for public engagements throughout Pakistan. He was welcomed at New Islamabad Airport by senior government officials, including Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, Rana Mashhood, and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Syed Atta-ur-Rehman.
Naik’s month-long tour will feature meetings with government leaders and participation in various public events. His team confirmed the schedule in a post on social media platform X, outlining public talks in Karachi (October 5-6), Lahore (October 12-13), and Islamabad (October 19-20).
Naik is currently facing charges from India’s National Investigation Agency related to a 2016 money laundering case and accusations of inciting hate speech. His PeaceTV channel is banned in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and he has been denied entry to Canada and the United Kingdom for his inflammatory speeches.
Earlier in August, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during a visit to India, stated that Malaysia would not tolerate terrorism if sufficient evidence against Naik is presented. Naik has lived in exile in Malaysia since 2017.
