Christian leaders in Pakistan call for action against Zakir Naik
- In Reports
- 05:27 PM, Oct 24, 2024
- Myind Staff
Pakistan's Christian leaders have reached out to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging them to take action against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. They allege that Naik has discredited their faith during his ongoing month-long tour of the country. This visit, which includes lectures in major cities like Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore, marks Naik's first trip to Pakistan in three decades; his last visit was in 1992.
Naik is wanted in India for alleged money laundering and for inciting extremism through hate speeches. He left India in 2016 and was granted permanent residency in Malaysia by the previous government led by Mahathir Mohamed.
Rev. Dr. Azad Marshall, the President Bishop of the Synod, Church of Pakistan, and other Christian leaders have condemned Naik for his remarks about Christians during his time as a state guest. They expressed regret that the Pakistani government has not shown concern regarding Naik's "anti-Christian" statements.
In their letter, the Christian leaders requested the Prime Minister and President to take decisive action against Naik and implement measures to prevent such divisive incidents, especially those that occur under state sponsorship, in the future.
"Dr. Zakir Naik’s public addresses have caused significant distress within the Christian community as he openly questioned the authenticity of our faith, discredited our sacred texts, and made statements that undermine the beliefs of Christian pastors and scholars," the letter stated. It further emphasized that Naik's remarks not only offended religious sentiments but also undermined the national pride of all citizens, regardless of their faith.
The letter added that Naik's comments have exacerbated the sense of marginalisation felt by the Christian community, despite the government's assurances of promoting religious harmony and mutual respect for all. It also pointed out that Naik spoke at open forums where Christian pastors and scholars were not given the opportunity to respond or correct the misinformation spread by his biased views.
Moreover, the letter stated that Naik had disrespected the vision of Pakistan's founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, during public gatherings as a state guest, which they described as unfortunate.
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