Istanbul Symposium honors Ghazi Abdul Rehman Peshawari, strengthens Türkiye-Pakistan Ties
A prestigious international symposium titled "Abdul Rehman Peshawari" was held at Istanbul University Türkiye, bringing together scholars, diplomats, and academic leaders to celebrate the legacy of the historic figure who bridged South Asia and Anatolia.
On the occasion, The Governor of Istanbul and the Rector’s team warmly welcomed the symposium guests.
The event was graced by the presence of the Governor of Istanbul, Davut Gul, and the Deputy Governor, Hasan Gozen, alongside Prof. Osman Bülent Zulfikar, Rector of Istanbul University, and Vice Rector Gulsum AK.
Distinguished guests included Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Dr. Mujeeb Sahraiee (VC Sindh Madressatul Islam University), Prof. Dr. Halil Toker, and Dr. Mehmet Toyran (Education Attaché, Türkiye Embassy Pakistan), among other esteemed scholars and dignitaries.
Dr. Yousuf Khushk, Vice Chancellor of Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mirs, delivered a keynote address as the Guest of Honour. He honored Ghazi Abdul Rehman Peshawari as a symbol of unity between Pakistan and Türkiye, highlighting his contributions as a warrior, journalist, and diplomat.
"His life was not defined by borders, but by his boundless devotion to faith, freedom, and fraternity," Dr. Khushk stated. He emphasized Peshawari’s role in strengthening ties between South Asia and the Ottoman Empire, calling him "a living bridge between our nations."
Born in Peshawar, he left behind a life of ease and chose to fight for the Ottoman Caliphate. But he was not only a warrior, he was also a journalist, a preacher of unity, and a diplomat of the heart. With his pen and his sword, he became a living bridge between South Asia and Anatolia.
This profound relationship between our lands is not new. It is centuries old, woven through threads of architecture, poetry, knowledge, and spiritual philosophy, he told.
During the Mughal era, Emperor Shah Jahan constructed a grand mosque in Thatta, Sindh, bearing the architectural influence of Central Asia and Ottoman design. A similar mosque was also built in Uzbekistan. These were not mere structures; they were statements of shared heritage, Dr Yousuf Khushk added.
In literature and thought, Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, the pride of Konya, profoundly influenced two spiritual giants of Sindh and Pakistan: Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Allama Iqbal. The mystic flame of Rumi burns in Bhittai’s poetry and Iqbal’s vision of khudi and the awakening of the Muslim world, he mentioned.
Another historical bond shines through the contribution of Hassan Ali Effendi, a educationist who shared ancestory of Turk, and established the Sindh Madressatul Islam in 1885. That institution nurtured none other than our Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His early education shaped the ideals that would later define the state of Pakistan, he added in his Speech.
And the reverence was mutual. Quaid-e-Azam greatly admired Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In 1938, he said, “The remarkable leadership and reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk have inspired the Muslim world. He was one of the greatest men the Muslim world has produced.”
In 1947, Türkiye was among the first countries to recognize Pakistan. And in recent decades, our friendship has only deepened. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s historic addresses in the Pakistani Parliament, his principled stance on Kashmir, and his moral leadership on international platforms have strengthened our hearts and hopes, he stated.
Our shared legacy now thrives in modern Pakistan, with streets named after Türkiye, Pak-Turk Maarif schools shaping young minds, and the Yunus Emre Institute in the leadership of Prof Dr Halil Tokar spreading Turkish language and culture among Pakistani students. These are not ceremonial gestures. They are living symbols of trust, love, and long-term friendship, he said, adding
But today, we must move beyond remembrance. The time has come to build the future.
As vice chancellor of the University , I respectfully propose the following initiatives, not as symbolic cooperation, but as transformative collaboration.
We may jointly establish Pak-Turk Innovation Hubs in universities to collaborate on research in climate change, artificial intelligence, water security, and cultural preservation.
We could work together to develop a Bi-national Digital Library, archiving rare manuscripts and cultural treasures for scholars worldwide, Dr Yousuf Khushk suggested.
We might initiate Twin University Fellowships, enabling scholars from both countries to co-lead research projects on shared challenges within the Muslim world.
We may consider launching an annual Rumi–Bhittai Literary Dialogue, hosted alternately in Istanbul and Khairpur, to explore mysticism, identity, and universal love.
We could also explore the formation of a Pak-Turk Youth Assembly, an academic simulation platform, fostering shared leadership and global citizenship among students.
These ideas, if realized, will not only enrich academia, they will carry forward the spirit of Ghazi Abdul Rehman Peshawari in the truest sense: service across borders, unity beyond language, and sacrifice without reward.
I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Istanbul University, Ambassy of Turkey in Pakistan, Yunus Emre Institute, and all distinguished partners who have made this gathering possible. May this seminar not only honour the past but also inspire the future, he concluded.
Dr Sahib Oad
Media Studies
SALU Khairpur
