Will visit Pakistan soon, Erdogan tells Pak delegation

ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday received the All Parties Parliamentary Delegation led by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.

During a meeting that lasted for 90 minutes and was held in a cordial atmosphere, Erdogan thanked both houses of the parliament of Pakistan for unanimously passing resolutions in support of democracy in Turkey. He appreciated prompt phone calls from President Mamnoon Hussain and “my brother Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif”, a message received here from Ankara said.

Erdogan condemned the terrorist incident in Quetta and condoled with the families, adding that Turkey supported Pakistan in the struggle against terrorism. He told the visiting parliamentarians that he would soon visit Pakistan to thank Pakistani people for standing by Turkey in the hour of need.

Terming the visit of the Pakistani delegation very significant, Erdogan said: “Your support to Turkey in the aftermath of the July 15 coup attempt is exemplary.”

Mushahid said the parliamentary delegation was representing eight political parties belonging to both the government and the opposition, which supported Turkey’s defence of democracy. He praised President Erdogan for showing bold leadership during the crisis and taking the initiative of mobilising people to resist the coup attempt. He presented a plaque to Erdogan, inscribed with the text of the two resolutions of the parliament of Pakistan.

Senator Talha Mahmood presented a fatwa of 51 Ulema of all schools of thought, supporting Turkish democracy and the constitutional government of President Erdogan.The meeting was attended by Senator Javed Abbasi (PML-N), Senator Sehar Kamran (PPP), MNA Munaza Hassan (PTI), Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi (National Party), SahibzadaTariqullah (Jamaat-e-Islami) and Senator Sitara Ayaz (ANP).