Turkish PM’s Visit to Pakistan
Today, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, in Pakistan on a three day trip addressed a joint session of the Parliament for the second time in four years. In his speech, he took the opportunity to offer his condolences for the Siachen tragedy, discuss bilateral trade, economic cooperation and generally about the strong bond of friendship between Pakistan and Turkey.
The Premier also had something to say about the role of opposition parties, commenting that opposition parties exist to reform the government, not to kick it out. Mr. Erdogan also talked about the very important role of the Parliament and finally, lauded Pakistan for upholding democracy. In short, a well worded speech covering a wide range of topics.
Fortunately, our own politicians never fail to disappoint: Gilani’s started out good enough; he called Mr. Erdogan’s address a milestone in the Pak-Turk relationship and about how the friendship between the two countries was very old. And then, in true Pakistani-Prime Minister style, he started talking about the Khilafat Movement! Yes! About the Khilafat Movement, whose sole purpose was to keep a man whom the Turks did not like, in power. The abolition of the Caliphate was an extremely important event in the formation of a modern Turkish nation from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and you would think that the Pakistani Prime Minister would have the good sense not to use the Khilafat Movement as an example of how old the Pak-Turk relationship is, especially considering that Pakistan did not EVEN EXIST at that time and that our founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah was hardly happy about the Khilafat Movement. But then again, what can the nation expect from Mr. Gilani?
Chaudhry Nisrar was hardly better, pointing out to Erdogan immediately that the opposition was in the Parliament because of him (how nice!). He then proceeded to talk about how Pakistan was facing problems from all sides instead of talking about Pakistan and Turkey and using the opportunity to properly welcome Mr. Erdogan.
Other than this, I think Gilani is a little confused about where Erdogan stands; Gilani called Turkey role model for the Muslim world in democracy, forgetting, it seems that Turkey is strictly secular, something not acceptable to most Muslim nations. Personally, I’m all for following Turkey’s example, but it seems at little strange to call someone your role model when you don’t accept their ideology…
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Being a non secular state does not mean you do not accept their ideology, simply that you choose differently for your self. I am not contesting whether one is better than the other, but just clarifying a point. Other than that , a good article
Yes, but here, the ideologies are mutually exclusive; you are either secular or non-secular and a non-secular state can hardly call a secular one its role model.
P.S I’m all for a secular state btw.