Three KU Syndicate members oppose honorary PhD degree to Dr. Zakir Naik

The University of Karachi’s Syndicate has approved the conferment of an honorary PhD degree to Dr. Zakir Naik, a prominent scholar visiting Pakistan.

According to Express News, the approval was granted during a Syndicate meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Iraqi.

However, three members of the Syndicate, nominated by the Government of Sindh, expressed reservations and opposed the decision. The minutes of the meeting revealed that the Syndicate received a letter from the Governor’s Secretariat on October 1st regarding the honorary degree for Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik.

The Syndicate approved the degree with a majority vote, but Saadia Javed, Shahida Rahman, and Sabzwada Muazzam Qureshi raised objections, particularly disagreeing with Dr. Naik’s views on women.

Earlier, Sindh’s Chancellor Kamran Tessori had formally recommended Dr. Naik for the honorary PhD. The University of Karachi followed protocol and sought permission from the controlling authority, the Sindh Government’s Universities and Boards Department. After the department’s approval, the Syndicate meeting was convened.