Pakistan is on the way to peace and stability, Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Pakistan is my second home. Pakistan is on the way to peace and stability.

While addressing the parliamentary session in Islamabad on Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said “I thank God for giving me this opportunity. I am thankful to each of you individually for allowing me to address this joint session of Parliament,”

“I am thankful to all of you for the way in which the people of Pakistan have welcomed us. I have never felt like a stranger in Pakistan; it has always been like a home.

“Today, Pakistan and Turkey’s relations are admirable for others […]. During difficult times, Pakistan has supported Turkey.”

Quoting a poem by poet Allama Iqbal, Erdogan said: “Yes, like the poet of Lahore, people were drowning in these emotions, people of Pakistan had supported Turkey.

“We can never forget this.”

“Today, the issue of Kashmir is as close to us as it is to you [Pakistanis],” he said, reiterating his support for Kashmiris.

“How can we forget those [Pakistanis] who prayed for Turkey? Our friendship is not based on vested interests but on love.

“When there were earthquakes in Turkey, they [Pakistanis] supported us. I am thankful on behalf of my country for the support of Pakistan.

“Like in the past, we will continue to support Pakistan in the future,” he vowed.

“Pakistan is on the way to peace and stability; peace and stability doesn’t come in a few days, it requires work.

A one-on-one meeting is also scheduled today between Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The sitting has been summoned by President Dr Arif Alvi at 11 a.m.

According to a statement released from the media wing of the National Assembly, this would be Erdogan’s second address as Turkish President and said to be an important address.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani received the Turkish president upon arrival at the Parliament.

Various government leaders and opposition members including Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP leaders Rehman Malik, Sherry Rehman and Raja Pervez Ashraf and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider also arrived ahead of the session.

PM Imran Khan and President Erdogan will negotiate on relations between two countries, defense, and railways.

Turkey’s president will also offer Friday prayers at Faisal Mosque in Islamabad and will also join the Park-Turk Business Forum meeting.

Invitations have also been sent to provincial chief ministers, governors, the premier, and speaker of Azad Kashmir.

In addition to this, top forces officials, foreign ambassadors, federal secretaries, and Gilgit Baltistan’s speakers are also invited in the session.

Sources revealed that all arrangements have been made for today’s session of parliament.

Invitations have also been sent to the guests and media officials to attend the session.

An important meeting held between President Dr Arif Alvi and his Turkish Counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Islamabad on Thursday evening.

Dr Alvi expressed gratification over the level of enhanced and multifaceted engagement between the two countries.

Both the dignitaries have agreed to extend mutual support on issues of each other’s core national interest and underscored the importance of fully realizing the immense potential of relationship between the two countries.

They also underlined in transforming this relations into a strong and dynamic trade and economic partnership.

President Dr Arif Alvi said that the 6th Session of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council will further strengthen and broaden the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Turkey.