SC directs interior ministry to declare Pak-Turk education foundation a terror outfit
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the interior ministry to declare Pak-Turk International Cag Education Foundation (PTICEF) a proscribed organisation and ordered that the control of educational institutions, being run by the PTICEF, be handed to Turkiye Maarif Foundation.
On December 13, a local lawyer Sohail Sajid had filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court and requested it to declare the group a terrorist outfit in the country. The petitioner had also requested that the custody of Pak-Turk Schools be granted to Turkiye Maarif Foundation.
Announcing its verdict in the aforementioned case, the apex court ordered the interior ministry to include the name of PTICEF in the first schedule to Section 11-B of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
The apex court also directed the country’s financial institutions to immediately freeze the bank accounts of PTICEF and give the custody of such assets to Turkiye Maarif Foundation.
Editorial: Pak-Turk schools saga
The Pak-Turk schools are administered by a foundation linked to Fethullah Gulen, once an ally of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan. However, since the abortive coup attempt in July 2016, the Turkish leadership has blamed Gulen for sponsoring the overthrow attempt, resulting in a global crackdown on the religious and educational network led by him.
Ankara accuses Gulen of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
Read more
Comments (42) Closed
Dec 28, 2018 08:59pm
Now you making Turkish Government happy not your ppl
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 09:02pm
We as Pakistanis must distinguish between fighting for our own security and fighting someone else’s War on terror!!
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 09:07pm
Agree with SC.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 10:13pm
@tariq,
What else a modi troll would say!
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 10:13pm
Gulen is wanted for crimes in Turkey. Good step.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 10:17pm
The decision is in line with our diplomatic norms. We always stand with the people of Turkey through their representative governments and not an organization. Fatihullah Gulen's organization has been found to be involved in the coup attempt which killed hundreds of innocent Turks and has now been declared as an terror organization by the Turkish government. Keeping in mind our historical brotherly relations with the Turkish people, we must follow the suit.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 10:19pm
Those who had granted NOC to operate such a network of school in Pakistan should also be taken to task. It involves the MOFA and our diplomatic mission in Ankara as well as others.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 10:35pm
@bharAT©, well that is very true.
Good going Supreme Court.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 10:37pm
100% behind SC verdit here! Good Job.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 10:50pm
@Imtiaz Ali Khan,
Thanks.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 11:24pm
Agreed with SC verdict. We should align national interests with Turkey. Gullen is a wanted terrorist in Turkey who the West is supporting.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 11:25pm
My kids graduated from Harmony School of Science. I was a regular parent/visitor and I never saw any political or religious discussions. Most of the teachers were white Americans and a few blacks and still fewer Turkish. The Principal was always Turkish and a middle school had a Pakistani principal.
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 11:39pm
Good news
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 11:51pm
Wow...
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 11:55pm
Why are we always fulfilling others needs.....
Recommend
0
Dec 28, 2018 11:59pm
Again which previous government failed to do anything?
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 12:11am
Why SC is dictating government on foreign and internal policy matters?
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 12:18am
SC is right.. most of them are terrorists
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 12:19am
we must really stop fighting for others. what will happen to the employees of school. hundred of teachers and staff will be left without salary for months before the transition is complete and students will be left confused, parents in termoil to transfer children to other schools, causing large amount of money out of their pockets to the other schools owner.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 12:35am
This is all high level politics. What terror activity had the education foundation done in Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 12:46am
Now the supreme court is doing the foreign office job as well. What is the Government doing if it needs the supreme court to declare an organization terrorist?.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 12:49am
If Pak Turk schools are run by terrorist organiszattion than interior ministry should have taken notice it is not SC job to interfere in all matters of government
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 12:58am
Fathullah Gulen appears to have questionable sources of income to establish such a worldwide network of schools. His schools will remain suspect as long as he does not come clean about his source of funding. I applaud the Supreme Court's decision to hand over the schools to a more reliable institution. If Mr Gulen has a gripe against the Tayyab Erdowan, he needs to resolve the matter without our participation.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 01:03am
@Mack@Jack, Charter Schools in US have to abide by certain regulations that's why it's quite possible to not notice any abnormal activities. However, the same or similar regulations might not be in place in Pakistan for these NGO run schools therefore there might be possibilities of unwanted activities. In these kinds of scenarios, Pakistan has to be on the side of caution.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 01:27am
The recent visit to Turkey by the CJ had anything to do with this?
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 02:07am
@bharat©, you spoke the truth, so I support you my brother. As my Pakistani I want good people to wish well for my country. We are all in this together yaar.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 02:38am
Apply order of SC and serve peoples of Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 02:54am
what Is the basis?
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 03:17am
What expertise does the court possess to make this determination?
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 04:41am
Only when the SC identifies one, the administration discovers there is a terrorist living there.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 05:52am
So SC is running foreign ministry too!
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 06:48am
It is very funny. Within 2 weeks, SC came to conclusion that organization spreads terror. In fact, they can not decide until they security assessment from interior ministry itself. Anyway. Its all political
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 07:01am
What about organizations like LeT?
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 07:07am
@WARRIs, It is always called some one else’s war, and that is the problem, it should be your own war since the elements are home grown and unleashed on to other countries for fanatical reasons.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 07:07am
The verdict comes only after his recent visit to Turkey
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 07:10am
I see a financial help announcement from Turkey coming soon!!.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 07:20am
What were the alleged terrorist activities? No mention of them.
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 08:28am
What is the terrorist act have they carried out?
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 08:51am
Deeply troubling development...
Recommend
0
Dec 29, 2018 07:55pm
What will the pakistan govt do ?
Recommend
0
Dec 30, 2018 01:14am
We should stand with the people of Turkey and it’s goverment , so that one day they will stand with us .
Recommend
0
Dec 30, 2018 11:51am
@Khalid iqbal , great expectations!
Recommend
0
