Zakir Naik's Pakistan tour: When controversy packs more weight than his luggage

We're not sure if controversy follows Dr. Zakir Naik, or it's the other way around. But the fiery preacher's month-long tour in Pakistan has stirred up strong emotions.

During his stay in Pakistan, Naik is scheduled to address public gatherings in the urban centers of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, where he has a strong following.

The 58-year-old orator arrived in Pakistan as a state guest after three decades. His last visit was in 1992 when he met the late Islamic scholar Dr Israr Ahmed.

Naik is currently residing in Malaysia due to legal troubles in India, where he ran a television channel and a network of schools.

Calling unmarried women 'public property'

At his lecture in Karachi, a teenage girl asked him about the concept of polygamy in Islam.

Zakir, who is known for breaking up complex issues into simple scientific facts, gave a breakup on how women outnumber men in the world.

At this rate, he says, if men marry only once tens of thousands of women will remain single.

Therefore, he says, unmarried women should either become second wives, or (wait for it) risk being labeled as "public property."

"What if the wife has a medical problem and cannot bear children. Should the man leave the first wife, or should he keep her and take a second wife and have children with her," he says.

News flash: Studies indicate that male factors contribute to infertility in about 30%-40% of couples facing difficulties in conceiving

His stance on pedophilia

In yet another viral video clip from his Karachi lecture, a young Pashtun woman shared that in her seemingly Islamic hometown, where women stay at home and men attend the congregation, pedophilia is rampant. "Why don't the ulema call them out?" she asks.

Your question contradicts itself, Naik tells her. "Because there can be no pedophiles in an Islamic society."

His response drew a firestorm of criticism with people saying this was a text-book example of gaslighting – a move deployed by powerful men to ridicule women when they report abuse.

It's time Muslim scholars address the elephant in the room and call out abuse when they see it.

Take the example of Pope Francis who not only accepted the prevalence of pedophiles in the Catholic clergy but also introduced a flagship commission to prevent abuse.

Refusing to hand out awards to orphan girls

Apart from public lectures, Naik also met high-ranking officials and visited an orphanage in Islamabad.

He was invited on the stage to hand out awards to orphan girls at Sweet Homes. Naik refused to interact with them, saying they were na-mehram, individuals who Islamic law allows to marry.

The moment was caught on camera.

Defending his move, Naik said the girls were termed "daughters" by the owner of the orphanage.

Physical interaction with them is prohibited under Islamic principles, he said.

Well, women make up half of the population in the world. You'll have to share the stage with them at some point.

Give me free luggage

In another public appearance in Karachi, Naik bashed the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for charging him for excess luggage.

"I was coming to Pakistan. Our luggage was 1,000kg. I spoke to the PIA CEO. The station manager told me that he would do anything for me. I replied, 'I have 500 kg to 600 kg extra luggage.' He offered me a 50% discount. I told him, 'I will bring four more people, as it will get cheaper. I asked him to give it for free or leave it.'"

Expressing disappointment at not receiving free luggage, he said in India he is given far more respect.

"I rejected the offer. Any non-Muslim, when they see me, lets me off for free in India. This is India; they waive 1,000kg to 2,000kg when they see Dr Zakir Naik. This is Pakistan. I am a guest of the government, and 'state guest' is written on my visa. Yet, your CEO is offering me a 50% discount," he said.

Forget his sense of entitlement, we're wondering what his entourage was carrying.