Pakistani Court declares FETO-linked organisation terrorist group: Reports

A Pakistan court has declared a foundation linked to the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen a terrorist group, media reported on Friday.

The foundation was running a network of schools, which the court said should be handed over to the Turkish Maarif foundation, responsible for Turkey's education activities abroad, according to the Anadolu news agency.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry praised the Pakistani court's ruling, noting that this decision should establish a precedent for other countries.

"The decision, which we consider as the manifestation of mutual cooperation based on strong bonds between Turkey and Pakistan, should set a precedent for all countries," the ministry said in a statement, as quoted by the news agency.

Ankara refers to the Gulen movement as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). Ankara accuses the movement of masterminding the 2016 coup d'etat attempt and has arrested thousands of military personnel, activists, officials, journalists, legal and educational workers over the suspected links to the group. Gulen, who lives in exile in the United States, has denied the accusations.