Mufti Taqi Usmani, Dr Aamir Liaquat among 500 influential Muslims

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Imran Khan, Dr Abdul Qadeer khan, Mufti Taqi Usmani and Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain are among the 500 influential Muslims of the world, according to a report compiled by Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.

Geo Network's Vice President, distinguished researcher and scholar Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain has gained a significant place in the world due to his role in religious and social spheres.

The report paying tribute to Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain has contended that he was given a space in the list due to his unbiased approach, for promoting peace and tolerance in the society, waging Jihad against social evils and for his selfless love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The report termed Mr Hussain as the world's most effective and popular television host.

Beginning with Geo's programme Aalim Online which drew great appreciation from the masses, Mr Hussain never looked back as he moved down the road accomplishing new milestones of popularity and success. He earned an extraordinary fame by launching a campaign to spread the message of non-sectarianism, anti-corruption and deep love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Making best use of his professional expertise, Mr Hussain gave a candid projection to the people's sentiments on screen and became an influential personality in the realm of media and television.

Later, he had also joined politics, but soon afterwards quit as a member of the National Assembly and also resigned as Minister of Religious Affairs in 2007.

The list included various other Pakistanis including Nawaz Sharif, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Imran Khan, Mufti Taqi Usmani, Haji Muhammad Abdul Wahab, Maulana Tariq Jameel, Allama Tahirul Qadri, Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar, Maulana Saleemullah Khan. Dr Ahmed Rafiq Akhtar, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Syed Munawar Hassan, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Qadri, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Dr Adeeb Rizvi, Dr Farhat Hashmi and Malala Yousufzai.

From India, Maulana Mehmood Madni, Dr Zakir Naik, Dr Abdul Kamal, Mufti Muhammad Aktar Raza Khan Qadri al-Azhari, Syed Ibrahim Khalil al-Bukhari, Allama Ziaul Mustafa, Aamir Khan and A R Rehman are included in the list.

According to the report, other influential Muslims included Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Sheikh Abdur Rehman al-Sudais, Sheikh al-Shuraim, UAE President Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Yahya al-Husayni, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayep Erdogan, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Muft e Azam Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed al Tayeb, Hezbollah's leader Syed Hassan Nasrallah, Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, Allama Yusuf al Qaradawi, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Mullah Omar, Hamid Karzai, Sheikh Hasina Wajid, Dr Muhammad Younus, Muhammed Mursi and Aymen al-Zawahiri.