Turkish coup remembered

Islamabad

The world needs to learn lessons from July 15, 2016, failed military coup in Turkey where people came to the streets and faced bullets and tanks to save the democratic system of their country.

The views were shared at an event organised by National Press Club (NPC) on Friday to remember the sacrifices made by Turkish nation on this fateful day and to commemorate the first anniversary of the Turkish coup.

Turkish Ambassador Dr Sadik Babur Girgin, Bosnian Ambassador Dr Nadeem Makarevic and addressed the ceremony. Vice Chairperson for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Shah Mehmood Qureshi was the chief guest on the occasion. The event also featured an exhibition of pictures by photographers who beautifully captured the historic moments of the coup. The police band played the national anthems of both countries to welcome the guests. The Turkish ambassador also planted a tree in the NPC.

Around 240 citizens lost their lives and more than 2000 got injured when a section of military attempted coup against the elected government of Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking Turkish Ambassador Dr Sadik Babur Girgin shared the details of the fateful day and the forces behind the coup. He said that there is still emergency imposed in Turkey as tentacles of the coup were spread so deep in the system of Turkish institutions. “All those involved in this conspiracy are tried in Turkish courts on the basis of strong evidence. The process is time taking and slow,” he said, adding that 3,000 government servants who were dismissed for their anticipated involvement in the coup are now back to their jobs. He warned Pakistanis to remain vigilant of the network of Fethullah Gulen who was behind the failed Turkish coup.

Bosnian Ambassador Dr Nadeem Makarevic paid rich tribute to the sacrifices of Turkish nation and said that they have defined the right path for the Muslim countries. He said that Turkey always stood by Bosnia in the difficult times.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Turkish people stood by their democratic institutions on July 15, 2016, because Tayyip Erdogan gave them good governance through these institutions and for Turkish people it was more important than their lives to save the democratic system. “He won the trust and hearts of Turkish people and worked tirelessly at the grassroots level,” said Qureshi.

Analyst Muwahid Hussain said that it was a black day for Turkey but a golden day for democracy which proved that with unity, awareness and right direction, common people become the most powerful force ready to face any coercive action.

NPC President Shakeel Anjum welcomed the guests. He said that July 15, 2016, is a great a day in the Muslim history when Turkish people took the responsibility to save democracy. Later, a shield was presented to the Turkish ambassador by NPC President Shakeel Anjum, President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt and NPC General Secretary Imran Dhiloon.