Don't invite Zakir Naik again, say furious Pakistanis after Islamic preacher's controversial remarks

Karachi, Sep 8 (IANS) Zakir Naik, the fugitive Islamic preacher, continues to receive massive flak for making controversial statements during his ongoing tour of Pakistan with even some of his hardcore followers insisting that Islamabad has made a "big mistake" by inviting him to the country, that too as a 'state guest'.

On Tuesday, a video of Naik went viral on Pakistani social media, where he is ridiculing Pakistan's national carrier PIA for levying excess baggage charges on him and accompanying entourage.

"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," said Naik during one of his lectures in Karachi.

He continued: "I am let off for free in India. 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."

Naik's comments have not gone 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!" Saad Kaiser, a Pakistani content creator, posted on X.

"Is this the person the government invited as sort of a state guest? Look he is bad mouthing Pakistan and its national carrier. Who advised the govt to host him? questioned a Pakistani journalist.

Some even praised PIA for not giving a "special treatment" to Naik, a wanted fugitive in India.

"PIA you maybe the 5th worst airline but you made me proud for letting down Dr Zakir Naik and for that I will risk my life and book my next flight with PIA," wrote Zoya in a social media post.

Naik 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.

He made headlines immediately for leaving the stage at an event for orphan children in Islamabad and declining to present awards to young girls.

"Look at the dirty mindset: Dr. Zakir Naik refused to present shields to orphaned girls and left the stage, citing that the girls were Na-Muharram. How could such clerics objectify women sexually? Why couldn't he see these girls as daughters, with father-like love," said Sindh-based writer Zubair Soomro.

Soon after, Naik - wanted by New Delhi on charges for spreading religious hate and extremism along with alleged involvement in money laundering cases - faced more flak for promoting jihadist mentality when he rebuked a Pashtun girl for questioning him on the rising number of pedophiles in the country.

"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, & 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!!!!!" Absa Komal, another journalist with a leading Pakistani media house, posted on X on Tuesday.

Certainly, Naik's much-publicised trip is not going the way the Pakistani establishment had planned, even after providing him with state protocol and foolproof security.