- Punjab minister says state’s duty to confront threats against its people
Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that the coup attempt of July 15, 2016 in Turkey was a conspiracy against progress and prosperity of Turkish people.
Addressing a ceremony here on Saturday to commemorate the first anniversary of the failed coup of Turkey, he said that it was impossible to find appropriate words to describe the brutality that the miscreants displayed that night.
He said that it was the people of Turkey from all backgrounds and political views who presented a historic example of solidarity and reclaimed their democratic rights. He said that it was the prime responsibility of any state to take necessary measures to confront the threats against its state and the people, so what the Turkish government did at that time.
Earlier, Turkish Consul General Serdar Deniz said that they were determined to fight anti-state elements with three things which are rule of law, morality and democracy. He said that this was the only way to counter such enemies of democracy. Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan was also present on this occasion.
Turkey has declared July 15 – the day of the failed coup attempt – an annual national holiday of democracy and unity, billing the foiling of the putsch as a historic victory of Turkish democracy. At least 249 people, not including the plotters, were killed when a faction in the army sent tanks into the streets and war planes into the sky in a violent bid to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
But they were thwarted within hours as the authorities regrouped and people poured into the streets in support of President Erdogan, who blamed followers of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, who denies involvement. At least 50,000 people have been arrested and more than 100,000 have been dismissed from services over the past year.
