ANKARA – Pakistani, Turkish as well as many international students in Turkey held a candle light vigil at Kizilay, Ankara’s downtown on Wednesday evening to mourn the innocent victims of a terrorist attack in Peshawar and to show solidarity.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat expressed his gratitude to the Turkish people and leadership for their dedicated support and solidarity to Pakistanis. He said Turkish support was a source of strength for the people of Pakistan in their hour of grief. Declaring December 17 as a day of national mourning in Turkey also demonstrates the strong unique bonds of eternal friendship that exist between the two brotherly countries, Pakistan and Turkey, says Mr. Shaukat.
An eight member parliamentary delegation led by Chairman of Turkey-Pakistan Friendship Group in Turkish Parliament Mr. Burhan Kayaturk visited Pakistan Embassy to offer their condolences. Turkish civil and military leadership, civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps have also offered their condolences for the Peshawar terror attack.
Pakistan Embassy in Ankara will organize Quran Khawani and offer Fateha for the Peshawar terrorist attack victims on Saturday.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced the declaration of national mourning in Ankara to show solidarity with Pakistani brothers and sisters.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and condemned the brutal act of terror in a Peshawar school killing innocent people. Offering his sympathy and solidarity with Pakistani nation, the Turkish President also conveyed his condolences to the families of innocent kids and people affected by the tragedy.
Flags were flown at half-mast in #Turkey after having declared national mourning for the school massacre in #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/wA4AXeDrL7
— Turkey PM Press&Info (@ByegmENG) December 17, 2014
