Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday appointed Dr Ejaz Akram as chairman of the high-powered National Rehmatulil Aalmeen Authority (NRA), aimed at countering narratives against Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Dr Akram, a prominent Islamic scholar who has teaching experience in a number of international universities, received a lot of backlash from social media for his controversial views on democracy, his belief in conspiracy theories apart from being accused of a sexual harasser.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail shared excerpts from Dr Ijaz’s article which he wrote in 2020, “Many researchers have argued that 9/11 was the fifteenth false flag operation in the history of the United States similar to the Gulf of Tonkin invasion in Vietnam and the sinking of the Lusitania during WWI… “
“Similarly, coronavirus exists but the global politics of coronavirus is fraudulent. Since its kill rate is less than the ordinary flu, closing down the world economy cannot be justified, yet global powers are all set to do that… The only hope this country has now is if the whole principle and structure of governance is completely dismantled, but preferably peacefully without the loss of life and property,” tweeted Miftah.
Activist and lawyer, Jibran Nasir tweeted, “A man who publicly despises democracy considering its the worst form of govt, demands the military to take over lost “turf” from “enemies”(civilians) & believes that power should remain amongst a hand-picked elite is appointed head of Rehmatul Lil Alameen (SAW) Authority by @ImranKhanPTI.”
Fahad Deshmuk, a journalist, took to Twitter and shared a video of Dr Ejaz and wrote, “Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Siraiki movement, and Jeay Sindh are funded by the enemies of Pakistan.”
Assistant Professor Erum Haider tweeted, “The new NRA chairman is a known sexual predator and has a history of engaging in harassment.”
Mariam Durrani, a professor wrote, “While I taught at LUMS, Ejaz Akram was a known predator that the then-admin was unable to address due to lack of testimony bc of the fear of retribution by many women students/faculty.”
Ifrah Hassan replying to Durrani’s tweet said, “Thank you for naming him. I never could. Even when I wanted to because I was worried that it’s his word over mine.”
Feminist and academic Nida Kirmani tweeted, “I remember going to a workshop with him once and him hitting on one of the young grad students there. It was gross. Then when I came to LUMS, it was like an open secret, but no one was ever willing to come forward officially.”
