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Pakistan orders 400 Turks to leave ahead of Erdogan's visit

Associated Press
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A police officer checks a car at a checkpoint next to billboards showing the portraits of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, left, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right, welcome Erdogan to Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

A motorcyclist drives past as billboards showing portraits of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, left, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right, welcome Erdogan to Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Pakistan has ordered 400 Turk nationals associated with the Pak-Turk International chain of schools and colleges to leave the country in the next 72 hours, says a statement on the school's website. The deportation order comes as Turkish President Erdogan is to arrive in Islamabad on a two-day visit to discuss bilateral, International and regional issues with Pakistani leadership. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

Pakistanis walk pasts billboards showing the portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to welcome Erdogan to Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

Officials at a chain of international schools in Pakistan say that 400 Turkish nationals affiliated with the schools have been ordered to leave the country within 72 hours.

The move was announced on the website of the Pak-Turk International chain of schools and colleges, and confirmed by two school officials. Both spoke on condition of anonymity saying they feared for their safety when they returned to Turkey.

The school operates 28 campuses throughout Pakistan. Turkish officials have accused the school of being affiliated with the movement of U.S. based dissident cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to arrive in Pakistan later Wednesday on a two-day visit. He has accused Gulen supporters of staging a failed July 15 coup attempt.