Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Turkey expects Pakistan to close down institutions run by Fethullah Gulen, the US-based religious leader accused of masterminding and backing the botched coup in Turkey last week.

“We have called on all friendly countries to prevent activities of this (Gulen’s) group,” Turkish Ambassador Sadik Babur Girgin said at a media briefing on the developments in Turkey after the failed attempt to topple the government.

He said the Turkish government had solid evidence that Gulen’s movement was behind the plot.

In Pakistan, Gulen runs a network of about 21 schools and Rumi Forum, an intellectual and intercultural dialogue platform, in addition to having business stakes. His organisations and businesses have been operating in Pakistan for decades.

Noting that Gulen had “big presence in Pakistan”, Girgin said Turkey was in close contact with Pakistani authorities. “We have had good cooperation with Pakistan in every field.”

(A source separately disclosed that the Pakistan government had begun examining options for administrative action against Gulen-linked institutions in the country.)

Girgin said the Turkish government was also seeking Gulen’s extradition from the United States, adding that the evidence asked by the US had been provided to the American authorities and Vice President Joe Biden had assured that it would be considered.