Pakistan expels Turkish school staff over alleged ties to Tayyip Erdogan's foe

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Pakistan has expelled 130 Turkish teachers at schools allegedly linked to an opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who arrived in the country for a visit Wednesday.

The teachers and their families at PakTurk International Schools and Colleges -- about 450 people -- received the notice Sunday to leave the country in seven days. Visas of the educational chain's staff were canceled, according to a senior interior ministry.

PakTurk has 25 branches in Pakistan with a total student population of 9,500, according to its Facebook page.

Management of the school system received a hearing Thursday with the Islamabad High Court on the deporations, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported.

"We do unequivocally clarify that the PakTurk International Schools and Colleges in Pakistan have no affiliation or connection with any political individual or any movement or organization, whether political, religious or denominational, nor do we have a financial relationship with any movement," the school chain said in a statement.

It specifically denies any affiliation with Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, or his Hizmet network.

Erdogan said Gulen, a former political ally, was behind a failed coup attempt in July.

In July, Turkish ambassador to Pakistan, Sadik Babur Girgin, at a media briefing "called on all friendly countries to prevent activities of this [Gulen's] group" and "close down institutions run by Fethullah Gulen." The Turkish government considers Gulen and his supporters terrorists, labeling them the Fethullah Terrorist Organization, or FETO.

Erdogan arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

"Pakistan's decision to have people linked to FETO leave the country by Nov. 20 is very pleasing," Erdogan said before his departure. "Just like Turkey, Pakistan is carrying out a relentless fight against terror. Turkey supports Pakistan's battle until the end."

Gulen's Hizmet runs about 2,000 educational establishments in about 160 countries.

PakTurk plans to continue operating schools across the country.

"The schools and colleges are being managed by a local nonprofit company duly incorporated with the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan according to laws of the country," the school system said on its website.