Turkish deputy honored with Pakistani state award

By Salih Bilici

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) – A Turkish lawmaker was honored by Pakistan on Wednesday, the country’s 73rd Independence Day.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi approved giving the country’s number three civilian award to Ali Sahin, a ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party parliamentarian, in recognition of his services promoting friendship between Turkey and Pakistan, said an official statement.

Sahin studied international relations at Karachi University, in Pakistan’s commercial hub, and after returning to Turkey, founded the South Asian Strategic Research Center (GASAM).

“It is an honor for me to be conferred the Star of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah by the President of Pakistan Mr. Arif Alvi in recognition of services for Pakistan. My heartfelt thanks to the great people of Pakistan,” Sahin said on Twitter.

When Sahin served as Turkey’s deputy EU minister in early 2016, Manra Bibi, a Pakistan mother, wrote to him seeking the return of the body of her son Salman Khan, who had died of cold along the Turkish-Bulgarian border.

Sahin making sure the body got back to the grieving mother was widely covered by the Pakistani media.

Sahin currently heads the Turkey-Pakistan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The Pakistani state award is presented by the Pakistani government to candidates selected from politicians, artists, athletes, scholars, and businesspeople who add value to the country’s foreign relations.

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic Cakmak