Erdogan Pleased Over Pakistan Deporting Teachers of Gulen-Linked Schools

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara is pleased with Pakistani authorities which decided to deport some 100 teachers of schools allegedly linked to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of staging a coup attempt.

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed Wednesday his satisfaction with the decision of Pakistan to deport some 100 teachers of schools allegedly linked to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of staging a coup attempt.

Earlier in the day, media reports emerged claiming that Islamabad had ordered the teachers and their families of PakTurk International Schools and Colleges school chain to leave the country in three days. More than 400 people are being deported. The decision came ahead of Erdogan’s two-day visit to the country.

"The Pakistani authorities have begun the eradication of Gulen supporters in the country, the education ministry is doing everything that is necessary. You heard of the demand for them to leave the country, we were very pleased," Erdogan said ahead of his flight to Pakistan.

The school chain, in turn, expressed their concern over media trying to connect it to Gulen and his political movement, denying any links.

On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded. Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers of playing a key role in the coup. Gulen has denied the accusations.