Pakistan invites Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, lecture series announced
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Islamabad: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik arrived in Pakistan on Monday morning at the invitation of the government of Pakistan, news agency ANI reported citing the Express Tribune.
Zakir Naik, who is wanted for alleged money laundering charges in India, will tour the neighouring country holding lecture series at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
His son Fariq Naik, who is an Islamic scholar, accompanies the preacher as he tours the country for the lectures.
Top officials of the Pakistan government including the Chairman of the Pakistan Prime Minister's Youth Program, Rana Mashhood and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Syed Atta-ur-Rehman received Zakir Naik at the New Islamabad Airport.
During his tour of the country lasting a month, Naik will meet senior government officials and take part in various public events.
During his visit to India, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on August 20 that his country ‘will not condone terrorism’ if sufficient evidence is given in the case related to Zakir Naik.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at the 50th Sapru House Lecture that ‘atrocities committed by an individual, group or factions or parties. These are of concern to us’.
Zakir Naik’s controversial channel Peace TV, is banned in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The preacher himself has been denied entry by Canada and the United Kingdom considering the inflammatory nature of his speeches.
Zakir Naik who is alleged to have committed hate speech, is wanted by India’s National Investigation Agency in a 2016 money laundering case.