Turks in Pakistan
Turks in Pakistan (Turkish: Pakistan'daki Türkler), are ethnic Turkish people living in Pakistan. These terms are also used to refer to Pakistani-born individuals who are of full or partial Turkish ancestry. Turkish educators in Pakistan are involved with the PakTurk International Schools and Colleges, which has 25 branches in the country.[2][3] As of 2016, there were over 100 Turkish educators teaching at these schools, and including their families gave a population of 400 Turks.[4][5][6] It is more probable, given the fact that most Turk villages were in the inaccessible mountainous regions at the time of 1901 census, that the actual number could be as high as around 10,000.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 400-10,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gilgit, Hazara, Bhakkar, Jhang, Skardu, Abbottabad, Toba Tek Singh[1] | |
| Languages | |
| Turkish, English | |
| Religion | |
| Islam |
Background
Turkic peoples, of which Turks are one of, have had a major history in Medieval Pakistan. The Karlugh Turks, which were one of the first Turkic people to arrive in the modern-day region of Pakistan, ruled the area of Pakhli (modern-day Hazara) for over 200 years from 1472 to 1703.[7]
A number of Turks in Pakistan were affiliated with Islamist groups such as Al-Queda and the Taliban during the Afghan war and fighting NATO and Pakistani troops from the KhyberPakhtunkhwa region.[8]
History
In April 1995, Pak-Turk Maarif schools and colleges was launched and Turkish teachers were hired.[2]
Notable people
- Atif Bashir, German-born footballer with a Pakistani father and Turkish mother, playing for the Pakistan national football team
- Abul A'la Maududi, Islamic scholar, Islamist ideologue, Muslim philosopher, jurist, historian, journalist
- Adil Murad, is a Pakistani film producer and actor
- Waheed Murad, was a Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer
- Aleeze Nasser, actress and model
- Tipu Sharif, actor and singer-songwriter
See also
References
- Abduction fear: Turkish teachers in K-P seek peace, security
- Tavernise, Sabrina (4 May 2008). "Turkish schools offer a gentler vision of Islam". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- Fate of PakTurk schools across country uncertain
- Staff of Pak-Turk schools told to leave Pakistan by 20th
- Pakistan Orders 400 Turks to Leave Ahead of Erdogan's Visit
- Tears and uncertainty as Turkish staff pack up to leave
- "History of the Karlugh Turks".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Ackerman, Spencer. "WikiLeak: U.S. Battling Militants from Turkey, Its NATO Ally". Wired.