Islamabad (TDI): The Embassy of Turkiye in Pakistan observed the Democracy and National Unity Day on July 15 to honor the martyrs of the 2016 coup attempt.
The annual observation of this day highlights the strong commitment of Turkiye to democratic principles and national unity in the face of adversity.
The memorial ceremony was held at the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad. Some of the prominent guests included Abdul Aleem Khan, the Federal Minister of Communications, and Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani, the Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On the occasion of the 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day, we commemorated at the Embassy our martyrs and honoured the resilience of the Turkish people. Today, we reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to democracy and unity.
Federal Minister for Communications H.E. Abdul… pic.twitter.com/fUZz4YixJy
— Türkiye in Pakistan (@TC_IslamabadBE) July 15, 2025
The day is a national holiday in Turkiye, and is an event of national importance for the Turkish people. Turkiye commemorates the sacrifice of its security forces and civilians who fought bravely against the coup intended to overthrow the democratically elected government.
The ceremony at the embassy reflected the same spirit, as Turkish and Pakistani officials highlighted the common ideals of freedom, sovereignty, and democratic rule.
Following the event, there was also a tree-plantation at the Fatimah Jinnah Park in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TÄ°KA). Pakistan’s Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Naeem Akbar Raja, also joined.Â
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The 2016 coup was the bloodiest attempt in Turkiye to overthrow the government of Recep Erdogan, staged by a faction within the Turkish military. On the evening of July 15, soldiers invaded the headquarters of the ruling party.
Tanks took to streets and the Parliament building was bombed using fighter jets. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was also taken captive. Loyalist police and soldiers confronted the attacking soldiers and the coup attempt was defeated within hours.
However, the fighting claimed 251 lives and more than 2200 people were injured. In the aftermath of the coup, a state of emergency was declared that continued for two years.
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