ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan said that Pakistanis are in the best position to understand the Turkish fight against terrorism as they themselves were the victims of the scourge.
On Fethullah Gulen extradition, he referred to American Vice President Joe Biden’s statement that Washington would do what was necessary if it was given the evidence on Gulen’s involvement in the coup. “The culprit will be punished strictly but in accordance with the law,” he said.
He told a questioner that no final decision had been yet taken to introduce the death penalty but it was demanded by the Turkish people, who saw a small number of soldiers shooting their parliament and their people with hijacked helicopters and jets during the failed coup, which lasted for five to six hours. However, he made it clear that the death penalty would be introduced if it was approved by the Turkish parliament.
Giving details of those behind the coup, the Turkish envoy said the immediate personal staff officer to the chief of general staff of Turkish forces, took hostage his own boss. He was planted by the Gulen as a young cadet in the army, who rose to the rank of the colonel. This officer had placed a listening device to spy on his boss and the information was shared with a teacher connected with the Gulen’s terrorist organisation.
The officer is repentant on his actions and requested that the Turkish regret law be applied to him as he was ready to cooperate with the authorities, the envoy said while referring to the media reports on this count. Under the regret law, the accused’s punishment could be reduced if he or she cooperates, the envoy said.
Giving the latest figures, he said of the 7,423 detained personnel of the armed forces, 218 had been charged, who would be tried in court, while investigation was underway against others. Out of the coup plotters, 24 have been identified while 50 of the captured were wounded, he said adding that the number could change as the investigation was still going on.
He clarified that those suspected to be involved were being suspended until they were cleared after the probe ended. Video clips of the attempted coup were also shown to the journalists, which highlighted scenes of tanks running people over and gunship helicopters attacking the parliament building, which was in an emergency session as the failed coup was still underway.
On the imposition of the state of emergency in Turkey on Thursday, he said it was sanctioned by 75 per cent of the parliament. The envoy said that the decision would empower the government to ask people to surrender their arms which can be returned to them later or the authorities could conduct search anywhere on the basis of suspicion.
Fielding another question, he said that it was not correct that media had been gagged in Turkey as there was very strong opposition media. However, if the journalists were involved in illegal activities, they would be tried under the law of the land, he added.
He said no one was allowed to be disrespectful to the Turkish President as he represented the nation and if someone did such a thing, the law would take its course.
