MEA to soon seek Zakir Naik's extradition

A day after Malaysia indicated that it will look into extraditing controversial preacher Zakir Naik, India on Thursday said the legal and consultation process within different ministries to prepare the extradition request were 'nearing completion'. Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of External Affairs Minister, said an official request will soon be handed over to the Malaysian authorities, adding that the ministry's internal process are also near completion.

"The formal request for assistance from a foreign government in such a case requires a legal process. We are nearing the completion of this exercise. Soon, an official request will be made to the Malaysian government. The internal process we have to complete is also underway," he said.

Earlier, Malaysian deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that the preacher will be extradited if a formal request is sent to Malaysia under mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) by the Indian government. He, however, informed the lower house in Malaysia that his government was yet to receive any formal extradition request from India. "If India requests that Naik be extradited via MLAT, we will send him. To date, there has been no such request," Hamidi has reportedly said. Hamidi went on to clarify that despite India revoking Naik's passport, Malaysia will not revoke his permanent residence (PR) status — granted to him before the passport was revoked — as he had not violated any laws there.

PREACHER’S STATUS

• Hamidi went on to clarify that despite India revoking Naik’s passport, Malaysia will not revoke his permanent residence (PR) status as he had not violated law there.
   
• The ministry’s internal process are also near completion along with processes with other ministries