THE Quaid –i-Azam wanted Pakistan to be a modern democratic welfare state, as did the Father of Modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk. Both countries were hijacked by adventurists and opportunists.

Before this failed coup, Turkey had been the victim of attempts to destabilise it by those who want to redraw boundaries and change regimes, replacing them with weaker states and juntas submitting to foreign dictates.

The Turkish constitution debars individuals holding foreign nationality from holding any public office. Years of military rule reduced Turkey to a country with galloping inflation and a public debt of 74 per cent of its GDP in 2002.

Erdogan successfully brought it to under 39pc by 2009. Under Erdogan, appointments were made on merit, turning loss-making state-owned enterprises profitable.

Employment opportunities increased manifold while state investment on education and health upgraded human resources.

President Erdogan has won polls four times on his election manifesto, but his authoritarian tendencies and accumulation of powers have become a subject of criticism.

He needs to introduce transparency, especially now that the Turkish nation has expressed solidarity and support for the democratic process. He has a popular mandate to rule, but he must respect the wishes of those who differ with him.

Malik Tariq

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2016