One of Turkey’s leading actors Engin Altan Duzyatan on Tuesday met three terminally ill Pakistani children via video link.
The actor is best known for his role as Ertugrul in the Turkish series Diriliş: Ertuğrul which became popular worldwide.
The event was arranged by Make-A-Wish Foundation in Karachi. It was attended by the Turkish Consul General Tolga Ucak and prominent Pakistani actors.
The foundation grants one wish of children who are suffering from fatal diseases. Fizza Khuda Baksh, 14, Sidra Khan, 15, and Sohail Umer,16, wanted to meet Altan.
“I am touched by the love and affection from Pakistan and especially from Make-A-Wish children,” Altan said while speaking with the children. He said he will soon visit Pakistan to meet his “Pakistani brothers and sisters”.
The Turkish television series based on the life and times of the 13th-century Muslim Oghuz Turk leader Ertugrul, has taken Pakistan by storm after the country's state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) aired it in April this year.
“I saw your drama on PTV which is lovely and telling us the Islamic history and how our heroes fought for Islam,” Umer told the actor.
Khuda Baksh said, “I wished to speak and meet you and today my dream was fulfilled by Make-A-Wish”. Altan promised the children to visit Pakistan soon.
Often described as the Turkish Game of Thrones, the serial is woven around 13th century Anatolia and tells the story prior to the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. It illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, father of the empire's first leader.
The wish children wore traditional Turkish outfits from the historical play. They also presented a gift of sword to the Turkish star, as per the theme of his super hit drama serial. The gift was received by the Turkish consul general on behalf of the actor.
Speaking on the occasion, Ishtiaq Baig, organiser and founder of Make-A-Wish Pakistan, said that people of Pakistan consider Engin Altan as their own hero. “Your kind gesture of meeting these children is commendable, which shows that you are not only a great actor but also a great human being,” he said.
Baig further added that Altan is so popular in Pakistan that even if he contested election here, he would have surely won.
Theme song of Ertugrul Ghazi was also presented by Make-A-Wish volunteers on the occasion.
The event was attended by Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani and Pakistani artists including Aftab Imam, Humayun Saeed, Zeba Bakhtiar, Ayesha Omar, Nadeem Baig and Make-A-Wish trustees: Justice (retd) Ashraf Jahan, Dr Ikhtiar Baig, Najia Ashraf, Dr Farhan Essa and families of Make-A-Wish children and volunteers.
(With input from Anadolu Agency)
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