Watch: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik gets red carpet welcome in Pakistan

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was given a red carpet welcome in Pakistan as he arrived in the Islamabad on Monday. Naik, who is wanted in India on charges of hate speech and inciting communal disharmony, will stay in Pakistan until October 28.

Zakir Naik was welcomed at the airport by Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program Rana Mashhood, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Syed Atta-ur-Rehman, Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs Shamsher Ali Mazari, and others.

In the evening, Naik shared a picture of his meeting with Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Zakir Naik is scheduled to deliver public speeches in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, and will also lead and address Friday prayer congregations, according to a report by The Tribune.

Since 2016, Zakir Naik has been living in Malaysia after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) lodged a case against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

The NIA action came after the Dhaka terror attack of July 2016, where one of the attackers admitted that he was influenced by Naik’s preaching through his YouTube channel.

India has requested his extradition, but Malaysia has so far not complied.