ISLAMABAD: Authorities declined 108 Turkish teachers and their families’ visa extensions days before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the country.
Pak-Turk schools’ teachers were told to leave the country within three days in a notification by the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
Sources said that 108 teachers – in schools of Pak-Turk Education Foundation – along with their family members have been denied visa extensions.
There are around 1,200 Pakistani and 134 Turkish personnel employed by 28 Pak-Turk schools and colleges.
The Turkish government had linked the school chain with the coup in Turkey. Turkey’s ambassador to Pakistan asked the government to shut the schools down after the failed coup, which was blamed on the Hizmet movement, suspected to be inspired by Fethullah Gulen.
In August during an official visit to Islamabad, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had stressed the chain of ‘Gulen-run’ schools in Pakistan should be shut down.
It was feared that the students’ education would be affected by this decision. However, Turkish and Pakistani leaders have assured that the schools will remain functional.
Pak-Turk Education Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Alamgir Khan said, “The government’s abrupt decision is extremely concerning.”
