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Zakir Naik Faces Flak In Pakistan

Zakir Naik’s comments ridiculing PIA for levying excess baggage charges while travelling to Pakistan last month did not go well with Pakistanis, including his radical followers, reports Asian Lite News

Zakir Naik, the fugitive Islamic preacher, on Friday apologised for his recent remarks on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) even as his controversial statements during the ongoing tour of Pakistan continue to draw severe criticism from people all over the country.

Earlier this week, a video of Naik went viral on social media, in which he was seen ridiculing PIA for levying excess baggage charges while travelling to Pakistan last month.

“I was coming to Pakistan. Our luggage was 1000kg. I spoke to the PIA CEO. The station manager told me that he would do anything for me. I replied, ‘I have 500 kg to 600 kg extra luggage.’ He offered me a 50 per cent discount. I made it clear to him to give it for free or leave it,” Naik said during one of his lectures in Karachi.

“I am let off for free in India as they waive 1000-2000 kg on seeing me. And here, in Pakistan, where I am a guest of the government and ‘state guest’ is stamped on my visa, the CEO is offering me a 50 per cent discount. I felt so disappointed. I told them I do not want your discount… I feel bad but this is the truth, this is the state of affairs in Pakistan,” he had added.

Naik’s comments did not go down well with Pakistanis, including his radical followers.

“Whoever invited Zakir Naik, please don’t invite him again! PIA should’ve asked for FULL price though. No real Islamic preacher would ever ask for special treatment—or at the very least, they wouldn’t complain about it in public when they don’t get it!” a Pakistani content creator posted on X.

“This man Zakir Naik thinks 13-14 years old orphan girls are ‘khawateen’ (grown- ups) and he can’t share the stage with them. He publicly criticizes national airlines for denying luggage fee waiver, also says that women who choose to remain unmarried instead of becoming a second wife to someone are public property (bazaari). He also snubs a Pukhtun girl for asking a legit question about pedophilia. Despite all this, gained some more followers, and some brain dead people are defending him, clearly we as a nation are MAGNET for arrogant people & women haters. State should invite reasonable people, we already have plenty of these roaming on the streets. Yeh Wrong Number Hai!” wrote Absa Komal, a journalist and a fighter for gender equality in Pakistan.

Realising that his comments have sparked a major backlash, Naik issued a public apology while insisting he had almost forgotten about it as his ultimate goal is to attain a “passport to paradise” instead of focusing on such worldly matters.

“If my words have caused discomfort to my Pakistani brothers, I sincerely apologise,” he told the audience during an event.

However, Naik – wanted by India on charges for spreading religious hate and extremism along with alleged involvement in money laundering cases – continues to face flak in Pakistan for promoting his jihadist mentality.

He has been courting controversy ever since his arrival at the Islamabad International Airport on September 30 along with his son Sheikh Fariq Zakir on a comprehensive tour of Pakistan at the invitation of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“We truly don’t deserve someone like Zakir Naik, an ignorant, outdated, and extremist person who wouldn’t even fit in the Stone Age. If he’s your ideal, lock yourself up, or even a glance at a na-mahram will send you to hell,” a Pakistani social media influencer wrote on X Friday.

“I want to apologise that 15-20 years ago, due to my lack of knowledge and immaturity, I was very impressed by him. However, today I feel deeply ashamed, and I declare that Zakir Naik is just as vile and corrupt as other religious clerics,” he added.

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Zakir Naik likely to be deported from Oman

Naik is accused of promoting hate, and disharmony, and his speeches are seen as objectionable as he has been extolling known terrorists promoting conversion and terrorism…reports Asian Lite News

Zakir Naik, an Indian born controversial Islamic preacher may face deportation from Oman following efforts by Indian intelligence agencies.

Naik, who has been residing in Malaysia since 2017, was invited by the Oman government to deliver two religious lectures in Muscat during Ramzan.

However, the Indian embassy has reportedly been in contact with authorities to detain Naik during his visit, with plans to deport him to India.

A legal team may also be dispatched by India for follow-up after detention. The matter has been raised with the Omani Ambassador by the MEA.

Naik fled to Malaysia in 2016, after his organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was banned and just before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) started a probe against him.

Zakir Naik faces charges of money laundering and hate speeches in India. In March, last year the Home Ministry declared Naik-founded Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association and banned it for five years.

Naik is accused of promoting hate, and disharmony, and his speeches are seen as objectionable as he has been extolling known terrorists promoting conversion and terrorism.

In 2019, he was also banned from delivering public speeches in Malaysia. Besides India, his Peace TV network is also banned in Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, and the UK.

Mohammed Shariq, the main accused in the 2022 Mangaluru auto blast case, had said that he was influenced and radicalised by Naik’s videos, which he shared with other co-accused. 

Karnataka Police officials seized Shariq’s phone, which contained videos of Zakir Naik that he and his handlers shared via Telegram and other platforms such as Signal, Wire, Instagram, and Element.

The NIA had approached Interpol, an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation, thrice to issue Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Naik but he contested and the requests were rejected. Interpol had cited that there was lack of evidence and proof of wrongdoing by Naik. He was also booked by India’s federal financial investigative agency – Enforcement Directorate – in 2016 based on a FIR that was registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Enforcement Directorate alleged a total amount of Rs 193.06 crore has been identified as proceeds of crime.

Naik has been booked on charges of laundering criminal money under various sections of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and allegedly creating illegal real estate assets worth crores in India and abroad.

In 2020, UK’s media regulator OfCom slapped a fine of 300,000 pounds on Naik’s two television stations, Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu, for broadcasting hate speech and incitement. The UK has also started a probe into the charity he founded that funded the channels.

He was barred from the UK in 2010 but continued to operate the channels until 2019. UK’s Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) cited Naik’s channel as an example of Islamist extremism.

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‘Qatar didn’t invite Zakir Naik’

Qatar has told India that no invitation was extended to Zakir Naik to attend the FIFA World Cup 2022…reports Asian Lite News

Qatar has conveyed that no invitation was extended to Indian fugitive Zakir Naik to attend the FIFA World Cup and his being wanted in India has been raised with Qatar government.

“The issue of Zakir Naik being wanted has been raised with Qatar. Qatar has told India that no invitation was extended to Zakir Naik to attend the FIFA World Cup 2022,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said at weekly media briefing on Thursday.

Some media reports had said that Qatar, which is hosting the FIFA World Cup, has invited Zakir Naik to deliver Islamic sermons.

Bagchi said the issue of Zakir Naik’s extradition has also been raised with the Malaysian government.

Naik fled to Malaysia in 2016, just before the National Investigation Agency started a probe against him.

Zakir Naik faces charges of money laundering and hate speeches in India. In March, this year the Home Ministry declared Naik-founded Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association and banned it for five years.

Naik is accused of promoting hate, and disharmony, and his speeches are seen as objectionable as he has been extolling known terrorists promoting conversion and terrorism.

‘Look at bigger picture of ties with Qatar’

Ahead of Zakir Naik’s visit at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, former Indian Ambassador to Qatar, KP Fabian stressed that we should not react or over-react to such reports as these are all “delicate matters” and we should look at the bigger picture regarding the relationship between the two countries.

“India should not react or overreact. Qatar has not invited this person because he is a fugitive in the Indian Justice system…Don’t take it as an act which is directly against India. You should also look at the big picture of Indo-Qatar relations. We have about 8 lakh of our people there. We are getting LNG from them and some of our companies are working and doing very well there. So, taking all that into account, my view is that there is no need for us to react. These are all delicate matters”, said the former envoy.

The ex-envoy though added that ‘according to his sources in the Qatari Government’, the video circulating on social media is ‘old’ but added that ‘assuming’ it is correct then ‘we should not react or overreact.

“A source fairly close to the Qatar government has told me that the news is not correct and that some old video is being circulated. But let us assume that it’s correct. And how should India react…My view is that India should not react or overreact”, added Fabian.

Zakir Naik faces charges of money laundering and hate speeches in India. In March, this year the Home Ministry declared Naik-founded Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association and banned it for five years.

The MHA notification stated that the speeches of Zakir Naik were objectionable as he has been extolling known terrorists.

The MHA notification also stated that evidence presented to the tribunal by the Solicitor General, shows on record that Zakir Naik continues to travel to Gulf nations to raise money, all of which are being used solely for radicalising people, especially Muslim youth. (ANI/with inputs from Ayushi Agarwal)

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