ISLAMABAD – Pakistanis have launched an unprecedented campaign calling forthe purchase of Turkish products and its currency Lira.
Scores of Twitterati are stressing their countrymen that Pakistan shouldprovide a succour to the embattled Turks in the time of need as the latteris battling sanctions imposed by the United States.
One of them, going by the name Arshad Zaman, expressed on Twitter that ifyou want to help Turkey, please buy their products and lira and visitTurkey instead of other countries for vacations.
Similarly, Ali Osman, another Pakistani expressed that there was a need forthe same support as Pakistanis lent in the 1920s.
“In early 1920s, Muslims of the sub-continent stood by Turkish brotherswhen they were in trouble, and now after 100 years we will again stand byour Turkish brothers and sisters,” he stressed.
Political analysts and commentators are also calling upon the people tohelp Turks wade through the economic crisis that stemmed out of itsdiplomatic row with Washington.
Turkey and the U.S. are currently indulged in an economic tiff after Ankarasentenced an American pastor Andrew Craig Brunson to almost two years inprison on terror charges.
Trump urged Erdogan on Twitter to free him, describing his continuingdetention as “a total disgrace”.
Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for 20 years and has been detained sinceOctober 2016, is accused of helping Gulen’s network and the proscribedKurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Interestingly, both Ankara and Washington designate the PKK as “terrorist”.
Erdogan has also announced that his country would boycott American productsincluding the high-priced Apple’s iPhone.
Anti-U.S. sentiments in Pakistan is on the rise since January, after Trumpannounced on Twitter that he was suspending military aid to the country. Heaccused Islamabad of providing sanctuaries to Taliban factions fightingAmerican troops in neighboring Pakistan.