Pakistan: Ankara urges to close down entities linked to Gulen

(AGI) - Islamabad, Aug. 2 - Turkey urged Pakistan on Tuesday to close down educational institutions and other business concerns run by Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Turkish cleric blamed for orchestrating the failed coup in Turkey. During his two-day visit to Pakistan, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed the chain of 'Gulen-run' schools in Pakistan should be shut down. It is worth noticing that over 11,000 students and some 1,500 teachers are associated with the 23 "Pak-Turk" schools believed to be linked to Gulen. "It is not secret that this organisation has institutions or their presence in Pakistan and in many other countries," he said, adding Turkey was sure necessary measures will be taken by Pakistan in this regard. "We have to be very careful with such organisations and their causing risk and threat for the security and stability of every country that they have presence", he said referring to the entities linked to the US based Turk cleric. Responding to a question about Pakistan's official stance on this issue, Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan's National Security Advisor said that the two countries enjoy close brotherly ties. He added 'Pakistan will explore options' to come up with an arrangement to ensure that the schools are 'delinked' from Gulen network. He reiterated Pakistan's support for democracy in Turkey and praised the Turkish President Recep Erdogan as a dynamic. The issue about Turkey's call for closing down 'Pak-Turk' schools in major Pakistani cities have been in the press for quite a while now. Nafees Zakria, spokesman for the Foreign Office has said in this regard that efforts are underway to address Turkish concerns and avoid disruption of academic activities in these schools. (AGI) .