Pro-Turkey rallies continue across Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistanis continued to rally nationwide on Saturday to express solidarity with the Turkish nation for its historic resistance against an attempted coup on July 15.

The rallies and demonstrations were part of ‘Youm-e-Tashakkur’ or Thanksgiving Day observed by Jamat-e-Islami (JI), one of the country’s largest Islamic parties.

Apart from JI workers, a large number of citizens, including women and children, took part in the rallies and demonstrations in the capital Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar and other cities and towns.

Carrying green-and-white Pakistan flags and Turkey’s red-and-white flags, participants marched on the roads and held demonstrations commending the vigor and resolve of the Turkish people in protecting their democracy.

“We are with Turkey,” “Pakistan and Turkey are inseparable,” “Long live Turkey-Long live Pakistan,” “No to dictatorship-yes to democracy,” were among the slogans raised by the participants – many of them carrying red balloons in solidarity with Turkish people.

Addressing the rallies, JI leaders said Turkey had always stood alongside Pakistan in testing times, therefore, it was the responsibility of Pakistanis to pay their Turkish brothers in the same coin at this critical juncture.

They said Turkey had turned out to be a booming economy under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Inshaullah [God willing] this journey of progress would continue despite all hindrances and conspiracies.

“We salute the Turkish security forces and the army for supporting the democratically elected government, and foiling the conspiracy hatched by a minor fragment of the army”, Sabir Awan, a former Pakistani parliamentarian, and JI Peshawar chief said as he led a rally.

“The historical resistance of Turkish people has sent a loud and clear message to the world, especially to the Muslim world, that democracy is the only way to achieve progress and prosperity in the comity of nations”, he maintained.

"It's not Pakistan, but people from Bangladesh to Palestine, and Syria to Saudi Arabia, who stand alongside President Erdogan," he added.