Students, teachers protest ‘forced’ deportation of Turkish staff

Lahore: Shocked at the news that the Interior Ministry has instructed the Pak-Turk International Schools staff to leave the country before November 20^th, 2016, large number of students as well as teachers on Thursday held a protest demonstration inside the Pak-Turk School located on Raiwind Road against the "forced" expulsion of the Turkish staff.

On tthursday, the protesters were carrying placards carved with slogans against the government for not extending the duration of visa of the Turkish staff.

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They demanded the government not to send back the staff of the Pak-Turk schools who were teaching for the last many years.

It is important to mention here that in the wake of an attempted military coup in Turkey allegedly supported by US-based religious leader Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish government as Ambassador to Pakistan Sadik Babur Girgin had asked Pakistan government to close down all educational institutes run by Fethullah's organization.

After the demand of Turkish government, a pressure was made on the Pak-Turk Schools to expel the Turkish Staff.

The Pak-Turk Education Foundation is running approximately 28 schools and colleges crosswise the country and these schools and colleges have been set up in major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Karachi, Khairpur, Jamshoro and as well as others.

Over 10,000 students are registered in the schools whereas almost 1,500 staff is working in these educational institutes.

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While talking to media sources, Shahzaib, a student of grade 9^th, who has been studying at the Pak Turk School for the last six years said,

"Several Turkish teachers have taught me in these years and I want my teachers back in my class."

Another student, Khalid of class grade 7^th, said,

"Turkish teachers as well as other staff left their hometowns for providing us a good environment and to teaches in a good way, and the government rather than paying tribute to them is forcing them to stop teaching and serving Pakistani people."

Kainat, a mother of 2, whose children were studying at the Pak-Turk school for the last five to seven years said,

"I am quite satisfied along with the teachers as well as by other staff because my children are being offered standardized education however it is very sad and awful that the government and rulers are working for their own interests."