Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the attempt of military coup to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in Turkey by a faction of military and expressed its support to democracy in the country and the Turkish people. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in a statement, strongly condemned the attempt to undermine democracy by a failed coup in the brotherly country of Turkey. The late night attempt of military coup was rejected by the Turkish people who took to the streets on the call of President Erdogan on Friday night and Saturday morning and forced the military involved in the coup to retreat.
"We deeply admire the resolve of the brave and resilient Turkish people, who stood up against the forces of darkness and anarchy to express their support and commitment to democracy," the Prime Minister said, who also expressed complete support and solidarity with President Erdogan, the democratically elected government of Turkey and the democratic institutions of Turkey.
He said Pakistan reaffirms its abiding interest in a democratic, peaceful and stable Turkey. "We wish to convey our prayers and good wishes for President Erdogan's well-being and welfare of the people of Turkey as well as the unity of the Islamic Ummah. We highly value our strong and historic ties with Turkey", he added. The PM said Pakistan deeply appreciated President Erdogan's steadfast support as also the support of the people of Turkey to Pakistan on all occasions, whenever the need arose. "I wish to reaffirm full support of the government and people of Pakistan to the elected leadership and government and the people of Turkey," he added.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatimi, according to Foreign Office spokesperson, also telephoned Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and conveyed Pakistan's support to the Turkish government. "We are with the people and government of Turkey and Pakistani nation shows its solidarity with the Turkish government and Turkish democratic institutions," Fatemi was quoted by the Foreign Office as having conveyed to the Turkish Foreign Minister. It further stated that the Turkish Foreign Minister thanked the government and the people of Pakistan for showing resolve to stand by democracy in Turkey. "This is what we expected from a brother county. We are also thankful to Prime Minister of Pakistan for his message of support for Turkish democracy and the government," Cavusoglu conveyed to Fatemi.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed his Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs to ensure every possible assistance to Pakistanis at Turkish airports stranded following the failed coup attempt. A large number of Turkish Airlines flights had been cancelled, delayed or rescheduled out of Istanbul and Ankara because of the situation in Turkey. The airline had now resumed operations, Foreign Office said.
Two officers deputed by the Pakistan Embassy and Consulate General of Pakistan in Istanbul are at the Ataturk Airport to assist the Pakistanis there. The Foreign Office advised all those in need of help to contact on the telephone numbers [Istanbul: 0090-532-568-3413 and Ankara: 0090-505-979-5393]. "The Embassy and Consulate are in constant touch with Turkish Airlines to help facilitate the departure of these Pakistanis," Nafees Zakaria, spokesperson for the Foreign Office said. He said the airline had advised that they should get the tickets changed in the transit lounge. He said the Embassy and Consulate were also in contact with the Pakistani community in Turkey. "By the grace of the Almighty, the community members are reported safe," he added.
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