LAHORE: Several PakTurk School`s students with their parents and teachers staged a protest rally outside the Lahore Press Club on Friday, demanding that the government stop forcing the Turkish teaching staff to leave Pakistan by Sunday (tomorrow).

They carried placards and banners inscribed with their demands.

`We want nothing but our respected Turkish teachers here, who have taught us in a way never done by other ones,` Manahil, a grade-8 student of the Khyaban-iJinnah branch, told Dawn.

She with class fellows -Fajar and Arshia -raised slogans: `Turkish teachers are the pride of Pakistan` and `We want justice`.

`Pm really shocked about this abrupt and unjustified decision,` said Fajar.

It was a disciplined demonstration as the protest did not block the road. Protesters said their teachers working in Pakistan for the last 15 to 20 years could be not be terrorists or the supporters of terrorism.

`They`ve always taught us the messages of love, peace, harmony and brotherhood, Waleed Zafar, an `O` levels student of the school, said.

He demanded that the government review its decision to lessen the pains of the students.

`Our request is that the government take up the issue with the Turkish government on humanitarian grounds,` he added.

Zaheeb, another `O` levels student, also expressed the similar concerns.

Rashid Paracha, one of the participants, said his four children were studying in the PakTurk School. Hesaid they had always found their teachers caring and concerned about their health and study.

Earlier, schools` Pakistani administrative officials held a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, reminding the government of Pakistan about several national and international achievements of the chain.

They also demanded that the government save the future of students by retaining the Turkish teachers.