Fate of Pak-Turk schools across Pakistan ambiguous

KARACHI: The Turkey’s ambassador called on the Pakistan government to shut down all the institutions backed by the Fethullah Gulen-inspired Hizmet movement, subsequently the future of the private schools set up by the Pak-Turk International schools and college’s network jumped into ambiguity.

Though Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is extremely close with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, thus this closeness is putting up pressure on the federal government to make such a decision which does not disappoint its strong ally. The Foreign Office is taking the ambassador’s request very seriously, and has even chaired a meeting to discuss the ideas on how to proceed further.

There are 28 Pak-Turk schools and colleges in Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Hyderabad, Kairpur and Jamshoro. Which has a total of 1500 staff and 1000 students from pre-school to A-levels.

The Sindh Education Director for the Association, said that since 1995, our schools are been delivering quality education without political motivation or illegal activity.

On this occasion, Information Minister, Pervez Rashid, said that a very tactful decision would be made. He also that we will listen to the Turkish government and will sort out their matters. He further said that there are thousands of students studying at these schools. And the government will have to make a decision which does not cause damage to the students yet also accepts the request of the Turkish government.  

Another government official said that that Turkish government has been asking Pakistan to close down these schools for a while but we resisted. He also said that Gulen has a trait, they are very legally comprehensive and the government have no reason to take action against them. But now the government can’t withstand these schools and there is a lot of pressure from Erdogan and Islamabad will be forced to come up with an excuse to close down the schools.