Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday (today) became the first foreign dignitary to address Pakistan’s parliament for the third time.
While addressing the joint session Erdogan said that he feels grateful of addressing the parliament for yet another time.
“Pak-Turk friendship is deepening with the passage of time,” adding that; Pakistan has always supported us in time of crisis especially during the failed coup attempt.
“Relations between Pakistan and Turkey are far greater than just diplomatic relations.”
“Pakistan’s democracy is a model for the rest of the world,” he said, adding that Pakistan and Turkey have made bilateral ties stronger in every field over the past few years.
Erdogan reminded the parliament how the Turkish government had declared a day of mourning when the Army Public School massacre had taken place in Peshawar in 2014.
During his address, Erdogan slammed Fethullah Gulen and said that he was trying to impose his rule over the world.
“Fethullah Gulen from Pennsylvania is trying to impose his rule all over the world,” he said. “Thank you for your strong support in combating the Fethullah network,” he added.
Erdogan said that Pakistan and Afghanistan should have close ties with each other. He said that efforts were being made to harm relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Erdogan said that Pakistan was still struggling against the menace of terrorism and praised the efforts of Pakistan Army in battling militancy. He said Turkey would continue its fight against terrorism.
Sharing his views on terrorism across the globe, the Turkish president said, “God has stated in the Holy Quran that He is closer to us than our jugular vein and there can be no higher power.
“Al Qaeda is serving as a puppet and as a tout to foment terrorism in Muslim countries, there is a war going on in Iraq and Syria. These terrorists are destroying Islam and are tarnishing its name…they do not belong to this religion,” he said.
“Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria are all affected by these terrorists. I have complete faith that Muslims cannot be destroyed by these tactics, hence the terrorists must be thrown out of the respective countries.” He reiterated that Islam and terrorism cannot be linked together.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over the session and delivered the opening speech.
“We hope that with the support of the Turkish president, millions of Kashmiris Indian-held Kashmir will get the right to self determination,” Sadiq said.
Before the Turkish President took to the rostrum to deliver his address, he was accorded a warm welcome by all members of the parliament including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as the noise of desks being thumped filled the hall.
“I bring to you the love and well-wishes of the people of Turkey,” Erdogan said, in the opening line of his address. “For me to address your parliament is a matter of honour,” he said.
The session was attended by all parliamentary parties except the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which is boycotting.
Chiefs of armed forces along with chief minister Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh are also present.
Later, the prime minister and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah will extend a vote of thanks to the guest.
Read more: Erdogan to address joint session of parliament on 17th
-Erdogan accorded warm welcome at PM House-
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was accorded a very warm red-carpet welcome at a formal ceremony held here at the Prime Minister House on Thursday (today).
At the formal welcome ceremony, national anthems of the two countries were played. A smartly turned-out contingent of the armed forces presented the guard of honour to the Turkish leader, who also reviewed the guard.
President Erdogan and Prime Minister Sharif introduced their respective delegations.
Later, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed a joint press conference after a one-on-one meeting.
In his meeting with the PM, Erdogan discussed bilateral relations and ways to further augment them.
During his address, the prime minister said, “We have no doubt that Turkey would continue to march forward on the path of peace, progress and prosperity under President Erdogan’s charismatic leadership.”
PM Nawaz said, “The fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkey are unique and unparalleled.”
He said that during talks with the Turkish premier they agreed to “transform our special relation into a strong strategic part.”
The PM said that “increased trade must be the nucleus of the robust economic relation we envision.”
Nawaz appreciated Turkey’s bid for Pakistan to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, adding that it had “strengthened Pakistan’s position.”
“We believe that our close relationship serves as a stability factor in the region,” the premier said.
“As you all know, 2017 marks the 70th year of Pakistan-Turkey diplomatic relations, and we have decided to celebrate this historic milestone,” he said, adding that Pakistan is a second home to the people of Turkey.
-Erdogan addresses joint press conference-
President Erdogan addressing the conference after the prime minister said, it has been “5 year period since establishment of high-level strategic council which was a step taken when I was in office as prime minister,” and added “we will be hosting the fifth summit of the council in turkey in a short period of time.”
The Turkish premier said, “We have been making improvements and progress in health, defence, energy and other fields.”
“We are aiming to conclude free trade agreement before 2017,” he said
Erdogan said during talks they had touched upon the developments in Kashmir.
“An increasing number of probs and tension along the Line of Control are having a significant impact on our brothers and sisters in Kashmir and have come to a point where we can no longer ignore them.”
Erdogan added a close eye is being kept “on tensions along LoC and loss of life there.”
The meeting with the premier was followed by delegation-level talks between the two countries.
-‘Feto’ a threat to Pakistan’s security-
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while addressing a joint press conference announced the Turkish government is determinedly taking on what he termed the Fethullah Terror Organisation (Feto).
“We are in the process of warning all of our friends and countries across the globe with whom we have solidarity” against Feto ─ what Turkey calls an alleged terrorist organisation headed by US-based self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen who President Erdogan accuses of instigating a botched coup to remove him from office earlier this year.
“It is now certain that behind the [July 15] coup attempt we have the Gulenist terrorist organisation and its leader residing in Pennsylvania,” Erdogan alleged.
“I am thankful for the solidarity demonstrated by the Pakistani administration on this matter… And for their decisive stance against this organisation,” Erdogan said today.
“It is necessary to dismantle this evil network… The terrorist organisation is a threat to the security of Pakistan,” he claimed.
“The students in the Pak-Turk schools will be taken care of the to the highest standards thanks to joint cooperation” between Pakistan and Turkey, Erdogan claimed.
“The recent development in solidarity and support has been the decision to ask Pak-Turk staff to leave by Nov 20,” Erdogan said. “This organisation will find no shelter in Pakistan.”
“Some columnists in Pakistani newspapers were underlining or making innocent statements or remarks but they are not welcomed by us,” the Turkish president said.
The Turkish leader landed in Islamabad on Wednesday, embarking on a two-day visit — his first to Pakistan since an attempted military coup failed to dislodge him from power earlier this year.
Mr Erdogan, accompanied by his wife Emine and a high-level delegation, received a warm welcome on his arrival.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif went to the Nur Khan Airbase along with his cabinet members and senior officials to receive him. The presence of the first lady Kulsoom Nawaz, prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and his younger brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the airbase gave a personal touch to the reception.
Several cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during the Turkish president’s visit.
According to reports, the Turkish president will hold important meetings with Punjab government officials. They said the meetings will discuss different joint development ventures between Pakistan and Turkey related to energy and infrastructure, mainly being executed in Punjab, and map out related strategies.
The Turkish prime minister had already addressed the joint session of the parliament in October 2009 and May 2012.
Other countries’ leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Turkish President Kenan Evran, Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and other have also addressed the Pakistani parliament.
Read more: Turkish President Erdogan lands in Pakistan