Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A diverse reaction by Pakistani political leaders surfaced over the failed Turkey coup. A segment declared it at odds with Pakistan’s current political situation whereas other sides insisted that those who call for military intervention should learn a lesson after the coup bid was quashed in Turkey.

Although, the whole opposition camp generically responded on the recent army attempt to ground Erdogan’s government, but the President Awami Muslim League Shaikh Rasheed still stuck to his traditional views about the incumbent government.

He responded on the social media that the people of Turkey supported the real leader and the situation would be changed if there were unqualified and unfit persons in power.

He taunted the Sharif Family and said that people who requested for mercy and then lived in palaces were now thinking why the people of Pakistan were not coming out to support them.

Shaikh Rasheed said while talking to a private TV channel: “The coup was not by the whole army, but only a few officers were involved.” He said; “those who are interlinking the situation with Pakistan should remember nobody will come out to protect thieves.”

He added that there was no threat to democracy by the Pakistan Army, but the real threat was from corrupt political leaders.

Commenting on Turkey’s situation, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami opined: “The failed coup of Turkey is a sign for Pakistan’s leadership to remain connected with the people and serve them because only this will strengthen democracy.”

The Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said in a statement that the people of Turkey deserved to be complimented for coming out into the streets and face military tanks and artillery with bare hands to force the coup makers run.

History had taught us how the disbanding democratic governments through coups had resulted in the destruction of the state institutions and the undermining of the social and political fabric thereby pushing the country back by decades.

“No one knows it better than the people of Pakistan whose ethos is democratic,” Bilawal said.

PTI Secretary General Jahngir Khan Tareen responded that when an elected leader actually works for the welfare of their nation, the nation in return would stood by him.

He also said that what happened yesterday was just because of Erdogan’s 15 years of economic growth and prosperity. Jahangir also commented in a specific background perspective of electoral flaws in Pakistan and said; “the people have protected Erdogan as his Party won repeated elections without rigging.”

Unfortunately whenever Pakistan faced martial law the opposition welcomed the move. The leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Senator Mushaid Hussain Sayed, by relating the recent situation with this background said; “One major lesson of Turkey is that the opposition also condemned the coup, so President Erdogan must unite the Turkish nation and avoid entanglement in Syria.”

On the other side the government camp was led by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif who clearly said that the Turkey’s event left a lesson that the right to rule only rests with the people of Pakistan and tweeted; “Turkish people have defeated the dark forces and defended their right to rule.” He added; “Martial law is not the rule of law — it is no law.”

The Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, was looking energetic over the failure of the coup in Turkey as he shared a number of pictures showing the public grabbing army personnel and beating them on the roads. He tweeted; “the lesson is that the real power is with one who is on the side of the rule of law.”

The prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz tweeted: “The brave people of Turkey have established that the sovereign will of the people cannot be made a mockery. Democracy wins. Well done!”

She hoped that the mindset to welcome the military would be on the verge of extinction by declaring it putrid in response to an internet subscriber, who pinched her by saying that the people of Pakistan were also brave, but you would be disappointed to see them distributing sweets once the Army removes your government”.