Govt-backed Turkish company to take charge of Gulen schools in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to oblige the Turkey's demand pertaining to closing down the school system and Rumi Forums in Pakistan belonging to Imam Fatehullah Gulen, but in a different way.

Highly placed diplomatic sources revealed to The News here on Monday evening that all such educational and cultural facilities would be handed over to a Turkish company that is being conceived and registered in Pakistan shortly. The Turkish entity, authorised by the Turkish government, will ensure the government here that it would continue to provide educational facilities to the students who are already enrolled in these schools.

The Turkish government took up the matter with the government here soon after the recent failed attempt of coup in that country. Ankara made similar request to all countries across the world where the school system belonging to Gulen has been working. The Turkish government had contended that Fatehullah Gulen is patronising terrorism through his educational facilities and his schools system is also part of that.The Turkish government asked the countries housing Gulen schools to close down them immediately. At the same time Turkey asked the United States to extradite Fatehullah Gulen to Turkey, who is living in exile in Pennsylvania and he has become American national. The US authorities have asked Turkey to provide evidence with regard to the terror activities of Gulen and his involvement in the attempted coup in Turkey early this month.

The sources pointed out that Turkey’s ambassador to Pakistan Sadik Babur Girgin had meeting with Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and other high-ups here in the Foreign Office to communicate the position of his government early this month. The government didn’t discard or conceded the request but asked for some time to take decision.

Now the government here has worked out a plan to honour the request of the government of Turkey. They said that Turkey has accepted the formula, and accordingly a company would be formed for taking over the educational facilities.

The government’s initial reluctance and concern was thousands of students who are studying in the schools belong to Gulen and where standard education is imparted to them. Meanwhile, sources said that Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu visiting Islamabad next week to discuss matters of mutual interest. It would be his maiden visit to Pakistan. The Golin schools issue would also figure in his meetings with high ups including Adviser to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. He will also have meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his stay here, and it is understood that he would convey a special message of his President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Prime Minister Nawaz

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is also likely to have a meeting with the Turk Foreign Minister. The schedule of the visit is being worked out through diplomatic channels, the sources added.