A clip from Dr. Zakir Naik’s recent public talk about his experience flying with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has gone viral, drawing mixed reactions on social media.
In the video, Naik discusses his journey to Pakistan, mentioning that his luggage totaled 1,000 kg. He recounted a conversation with the PIA CEO, where the station manager offered him a 50% discount on his excess luggage.
Naik humorously suggested that he could bring more people to make it cheaper, asking for a free allowance instead. This comment came in response to a query about the need for bribery in obtaining services in Karachi.
While discussing the issue, Dr. Naik emphasized the importance of avoiding bribery and always speaking the truth. He expressed his disappointment, saying, “Any non-Muslim in India would let me pass with 1,000 to 2,000 kg of luggage for free. Here in Pakistan, as a guest of the government, the CEO is only offering a discount.”
He noted that PIA was charging 110 Malaysian Ringgit per kg and expressed his hurt that they couldn’t allow him the full luggage allowance given his status as a state guest.
Dr. Naik also reflected on the respect he receives in India, stating, “Even today, Modi is wrong, but not India. The respect I get in India… People in Pakistan also like me.” He lamented the situation in Pakistan, saying, “Money is nothing. This is the state of Pakistan, a state I really love.”
The video sparked a range of responses online, with some users criticizing his remarks while others defended him, arguing for the respectful treatment of state guests.
Dr. Zakir Naik arrived in Pakistan on September 30 for a month-long tour, marking his first visit in thirty years. He previously visited in 1992 to meet the scholar Dr. Israr Ahmed in Lahore. Naik, originally from India, currently resides in Malaysia due to legal challenges in India, which has sought his extradition on various charges.
