Pak-Turk Schools: Judge extends stay against deportation of Turkish teachers

Additional attorney-general to submit law under which foreigners can be deported

KARACHI: Further extending the stay against the deportation of Turkish teachers, the Sindh High Court (SHC) once again directed the additional attorney-general to produce the law that provides for deporting ‘peaceful’ foreigners.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, fixed the matter on April 3.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by a group of parents, students and teachers of the Pak-Turk Schools against the deportation of Turkish teaching staff following a request made by the Turkish government.

Ankara had requested Islamabad to close down the Pak-Turk Schools run by the United States-based cleric Fetullah Gulen who had been accused of instigating a coup attempt last year.

Therefore, the interior ministry had in November last year ordered the Turkish staff of the educational network to leave Pakistan, rejecting their applications for the extension of visas.

Following the federal government’s decision, the parents and students of the Pak-Turk Schools approached the court, which granted a stay against their deportation.



Earlier this month, the attorney-general had informed the court that Turkish teachers were being deported after their involvement was established in terrorist activities in Pakistan. However, the judges had ordered him to submit the law under which such deportations were being made.

During hearing of the case on Friday, the judges asked Additional Attorney-General Salman Talibuddin to place on record the copy of the law, if any, under which a foreigner ‘peacefully’ living in the country could be deported.

Justice Akhtar observed that the Turkish nationals were not willing to return to their country, where their lives were said to be in danger.

He told the federal law officer that Article 9 of the Constitution clearly guarantees the security and safety of every citizen, including foreigners.

Talibuddin contended that the Turkish nationals were overstaying in the country since their visas had expired and insisted they have to leave. However, the judges directed him to first produce by April 3 the law under which foreigners were ordered to be deported from the country. Till the next date, they extended temporary stay granted earlier against the deportation of the teachers.



Case history

The petitioners’ lawyer, Abdul Hameed Khoso, said the Pak-Turk Foundation was a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which has nothing to do with the politics of Pakistan or Turkey.

The petitioners submitted that the deportation order would hurt the interests of 11,000 students studying in the schools.

He said the Turkish teachers had applied for an extension in their visas but the government, instead of granting the extension, ordered the staff to leave the country.

He maintained that the Pak-Turk Schools provide inexpensive but high-quality education. “Therefore, the decision to deport the teachers will harm the future of the students of the schools.”