Dr. Zakir Naik apologizes over remarks made against PIA
Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik has
issued an apology for his remarks regarding Pakistan International Airlines
(PIA).
During an event, Dr. Naik shared
that Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori had encouraged him to “forget about the
incident involving PIA,” prompting him to reflect on whether his comments were
indeed appropriate. The governor reminded him of the situation that led to the
controversy.
Acknowledging the tension his
remarks created on social media, Dr. Naik questioned the appropriateness of his
statements but emphasized that his “intentions were rooted in truth.” He
expressed a desire to avoid fostering animosity between Indians and Pakistanis,
likening it to the divisions created by the British before the partition.
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The scholar stated, “I promote
peace,” and if his words caused any discomfort to his Pakistani brothers, he
offered a “sincere apology.” He further highlighted that his ultimate goal is
to attain a “passport to paradise” rather than a worldly passport.
Dr. Naik is currently on a visit to
Pakistan, where he has recently criticized PIA’s CEO and the airline itself. He
recounted an incident regarding excess luggage, stating, “I was coming to
Pakistan with 1,000 kg of luggage. I spoke to the PIA CEO, and the station
manager offered me a 50% discount for my excess baggage. I told him I would
bring four more people to make it cheaper and asked if he could waive the fee.”
In response to a query about giving
bribes at the Governor House in Karachi, Dr. Naik noted that he had to give
bribes even for legal work, which he found troubling. He expressed
disappointment that PIA could only offer him a 50% discount on his excess
baggage fees, remarking, “Any non-Muslim in India would allow me to travel with
an excess of 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms for free.” He pointed out that PIA was
charging 110 Malaysian Ringgit per kilogram, expressing that he felt “hurt” by
the airline's inability to accommodate his luggage needs as a state guest.
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Dr. Naik stated that he did not seek
special treatment but expected basic hospitality. He lamented, “I am saddened
to speak the truth, but this reflects the state of Pakistan.” He noted that
while he disagrees with Indian Prime Minister Modi, he does not blame India as
a whole.
Comparing the hospitality he
receives in India to his experiences in Pakistan, Dr. Naik expressed
disappointment with the airline's lack of support for his luggage.
Dr. Zakir Naik arrived in Pakistan
on September 30 for a month-long tour that will include lectures in major
cities such as Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore. This marks his first visit to
Pakistan in thirty years; his last trip was in 1992 when he met with renowned
scholar Dr. Israr Ahmed in Lahore before returning to India.
Originally from India, Naik
currently resides in Malaysia due to legal issues in his home country, which
has sought his extradition in several cases.
Source: AAJ
TV