Turkish President reaches Raiwind

Pakistan

Turkish President reaches Raiwind

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01 April,2010 12:23 pm

Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived at Raiwind Palace for luncheon hosted by Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab, on Thursday. Interior Minister Reman Malik and a Turkish delegation also accompanied him. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali and Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, welcomed the Turkish President at Raiwind Palace. Earlier, the Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited the mausolem of the poet of the East, Allama Muhammad Iqbal and laid a floral wreath here Thursday. He was accompanied by the Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rehman Malik during his visit to mausolem. The Turkish President offered fateha led by Khateeb Badshahi Mosque Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad. He prayed to the Allah Almighty for the strengthening of friendly ties between the two countries and prosperity of the sisterly concerns. Recording his impressions in the visitors book, the Turkish President paid glowing tributes to the visionary poet whose poetry aroused the Muslims to action and breathed a new soul in the Muslims of the sub-continent. He said that Iqbals poetry is a shared legacy for the people of Pakistan and Turkey. Later, the visiting president was shown round the Badshahi mosque. He admired the grandeur of the masterpiece of the Mughal architecture. Earlier, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Provincial Minister for Auqaf Ehsan ud Din Qureshi and a large number of officials received the distinguished guest at the mausoleum. A smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Rangers presented the guard of honour to the Turkish President.