KARACHI: Former actress and model Veena Malik visited Jamia Binoria in SITE area with her husband and son on Saturday, met its chief Mufti Muhammad Naeem, senior faculty members and students and said she wanted her children to get educated at the religious institution.

Ms Malik did not specify any particular reason behind her visit to Jamia Binoria Al Almia — one of the country’s largest religious institutions — but said her life had changed more than five years ago and now she was willing to focus more on religion and “life hereafter”.

“I want my son and daughter to become Hafiz-i-Quran and get education at Jamia Binoria,” she told reporters as TV channels broadcast her visit and media talk live from the Islamic university. “I always wanted to get Islamic education from Mufti Sahab’s Jamia Binoria and I wanted to meet him for a long time. My life changed after 2010 and 2011 when I realised that one should not take this world as everything and be prepared for life hereafter.”

Married to businessman Asad Bashir Khan Khattak since December 2013, Ms Malik is mother of two and in the past was known for her ‘controversial’ contributions to show business both in Pakistan and India.

In 2014, she announced quitting the showbiz industry, vowing to work only in productions with religious and national message. She claimed to have realised the “reality of this world” and has focused more on religion and social welfare activities.

“After marriage, I met Maulana Tariq Jameel, Junaid Jamshed and Mufti Muhammad Naeem that made me realise the truth and our responsibility,” she said. “Now I seek Allah’s help for my goals. I want to seek religious education and serve society. I believe nothing is impossible and it only needs your willingness and dedication.”

Mufti Naeem, his faculty and students welcomed Ms Malik and her family.

“We welcome her at our institution. We all pray that may Allah give her success in every right and religious goal,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2016