KARACHI: The syndicate of the University of Karachi (KU) on Tuesday approved conferment of an honorary PhD degree in the faculty of Islamic Studies to renowned scholar Dr Zakir Naik.

A special meeting of the KU syndicate was held on the campus and presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Mahmood Iraqi.

Sources said that during the meeting three syndicate members — MPA Sadia Javed, MNA Shahida Rehmani and Sahibzada Moazzam Qureshi of the Pakistan Peoples Party — expressed their reservations over the decision while disagreeing with Dr Naik’s views pertaining to women.

According to a KU spokesperson, the special session was called in light of a Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori’s letter in which he, being the chancellor of public sector universities, had recommended award of an honorary PhD degree to the eminent scholar who is currently on a visit to the country.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2024