TULIP President Joins TİKA Tree-Planting Ceremony in Islamabad to Honor July 15 Martyrs

500 trees planted at Ankara Park establish a memorial forest symbolizing Türkiye-Pakistan brotherhood and remembrance of those who defended Turkish democracy in 2016

Mr. Saif ul Islam Khan, President of Türkiye Alumni Pakistan (TULIP), attended a tree-planting ceremony organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) Islamabad Office to honor the memory of the martyrs of July 15, marking one of several commemorative events held internationally to mark the anniversary.

Background: The July 15 Coup Attempt and Its Legacy

July 15 holds deep national significance in Türkiye, marking the anniversary of the failed 2016 coup attempt, during which a faction within the Turkish military attempted to seize control of the government. The attempt was met with widespread public resistance, as citizens took to the streets across the country to oppose the coup, resulting in significant loss of life among civilians and security personnel who stood against it.

In the years since, July 15 has been formally commemorated in Türkiye as the Democracy and National Unity Day, observed annually to honor those who lost their lives defending the country’s democratic institutions. The date has also become a focal point for Turkish diplomatic and cultural missions abroad, which frequently organize commemorative events in partnership with local institutions and diaspora or alumni organizations in countries with strong bilateral ties to Türkiye.

Pakistan and Türkiye share a longstanding relationship often described by officials from both countries as a close, brotherly partnership, spanning cultural, educational, and diplomatic cooperation. Organizations such as TİKA — Türkiye’s primary agency for international development and cultural cooperation — play a central role in maintaining and expanding these ties through programming in partner countries, including Pakistan.

The Ceremony

The tree-planting ceremony, organized by the TİKA Islamabad Office, saw 500 trees planted at Ankara Park in Islamabad, establishing what organizers have described as a memorial forest intended to serve as a lasting symbol of remembrance, Türkiye-Pakistan brotherhood, and a shared commitment to environmental sustainability.

Mr. Saif ul Islam Khan attended the event in his capacity as President of Türkiye Alumni Pakistan, an organization representing Pakistani alumni of Turkish educational institutions and programs, reflecting the close educational and cultural links that have developed between the two countries over recent years.

A Living Tribute

Organizers have framed the newly established memorial forest as a living tribute, one that will continue to grow over time as a symbol honoring those who defended Türkiye’s democracy during the events of July 15, 2016. The choice of a tree-planting ceremony as a form of commemoration reflects a broader trend among diplomatic missions and cultural organizations of pairing acts of remembrance with environmentally symbolic gestures, linking historical memory with an ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The event adds to a series of similar commemorative activities held by Turkish missions and partner organizations internationally each July, aimed at preserving the memory of the coup attempt’s victims while reinforcing bilateral cultural and diplomatic ties with host countries such as Pakistan.