Turkish body takes over more FETO schools in Pakistan

By Islamuddin Sajid </p> <p>ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) – Turkish authorities on Wednesday took over three more schools previously linked to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Pakistan’s southwestern province, an official said. </p> <p> </p> <p>FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.</p> <p>Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.</p> <p>Selahattin Batur, country director of Turkey’s Maarif Foundation, along with other officials took over the management of schools in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.</p> <p>Turkey established the Maarif Foundation in 2016 after a coup attempt to take over the administration of overseas schools linked to FETO. It also establishes schools and education centers abroad.</p> <p>&quot;Today, we took over the last remaining schools in Quetta as we have already taken control of the schools in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar,&quot; Batur told Anadolu Agency. </p> <p> </p> <p>He added that the process of taking over all 28 schools in Pakistan has been completed today. </p> <p> </p> <p>Last month, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered the government to declare FETO a terror group and to ban its affiliated schools in the country.</p> <p>The top court also ordered the transfer of FETO's &quot;movable and immovable assets&quot;, schools, colleges, education centers and other similar entities to Turkey’s Maarif Foundation.</p> <p>FETO has a considerable presence abroad, including private schools which serve as a revenue stream for the terror group.