Turks in Pakistan challenge their expulsion order in court

In this Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 photo provided by the Pakistan Press Information Department, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right, receives Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ahead of a visit by Turkey's president, Islamabad ordered 400 Turkish nationals affiliated with a chain of international schools in Pakistan to leave the country within 72 hours, officials said Wednesday. (Press Information Department via AP) (The Associated Press)

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In this Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 photo provided by the Pakistan Press Information Department, Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain right, receives Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the President House in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ahead of a visit by Turkey's president, Islamabad ordered 400 Turkish nationals affiliated with a chain of international schools in Pakistan to leave the country within 72 hours, officials said Wednesday. (Press Information Department via AP) (The Associated Press)

Pakistani students of the Pak-Turk International school comfort their Turkish teacher in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Pakistan's order for 400 Turkish nationals, mostly schoolteachers and their families, to leave the country within 72 hours was being challenged in court on Thursday as hundreds of students took to the streets to denounce the expulsions. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudhry) (The Associated Press)

Pakistan's order for 400 Turkish nationals to leave the country within 72 hours is being challenged in court.

The Turkish nationals include staff at the Pak-Turk International school chain and their family members. Ankara has accused the school of links with the movement of U.S.-based dissident cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Pak-Turk denies.

School officials say the petition is being heard in court on Thursday. They spoke on condition of anonymity fearing for their security when they return to Turkey.

The move comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Pakistan. Erdogan has accused Gulen supporters of staging a failed July 15 coup.

Pakistani police officer Adnan Naseer says hundreds of Pak-Turk students have blocked the main road in the eastern city of Lahore to protest the expulsion orders.

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