Emin Avundukluoğlu
03 August 2016•Update: 08 August 2016
ANKARA
Pakistan's Parliament Wednesday passed unanimous resolutions expressing strong support and solidarity with Turkey in defeating the July 15 coup attempt and protecting democracy.
The National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, passed a unanimous resolution, touting "the brave people of Turkey who, setting aside political differences, displayed enormous courage and determination to demonstrate their resolve to protect democratic norms and uphold the rule of law."
"This House highly values the strong historic ties between Turkey and Pakistan. It deeply appreciates Turkey’s steadfast support to Pakistan on all occasions and conveys its full support and best wishes to the people of Turkey," it said.
The Senate, the upper house, also praised the bravery of the Turkish people, as well as the resolve of opposition parties to protect democracy.
"The Senate admires, congratulates and pays its tribute to the brave people of Turkey who displayed an uncommon courage by upholding democratic norms and defeated military coup and saved their country from anarchy and civil war.
"It was so moving to see common Turks take to streets and the world witnessed that human flesh stopped steel tanks on just a single call of their leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan," the Senate resolution said.
The upper house also praised "all opposition political parties for their historical and unprecedented resolve to protect democracy."
The Pakistani Parliament is among the first foreign elected bodies to have passed such unanimous resolutions.
Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly July 15 coup attempt, which martyred at least 238 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, was organized by the followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.
Gulen is also accused of implementing a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.
