ISLAMABAD, 4 December 2007 — Turkish President Abdullah Gul yesterday called for Pakistan’s warring political forces to show unity amid an ongoing state of emergency imposed by President Pervez Musharraf.

Gul held lengthy talks with Musharraf in Islamabad, a day after becoming the first foreign leader to visit Pakistan since the declaration of emergency rule on Nov. 3.

“Pakistan is passing through a critical time... therefore, from this kind of critical period, all the leading teams should focus on the future of Pakistan,” Gul said at a joint news conference with Musharraf.

“They should look at the big picture and behave constructively. It is good for Pakistan.” Musharraf has pledged to lift the emergency by Dec. 16, ahead of general elections on Jan. 8. Last week, he stepped down as chief of the army and was sworn in for a second term as a civilian president.

He said he had “explained to the (Turkish) president the political turmoil we had gone through and the democratic transition course we have adopted.” Gul also met opposition leaders, including former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, during his visit, which Musharraf said he thought was a good move.

“I know it is going to be positive and in the interest of Pakistan. When the president meets these political leaders, they have to keep Pakistan’s interest foremost,” Musharraf told reporters.

“My slogan is Pakistan comes first. My brother (Gul) is going to speak for Pakistan because his interest is in Pakistan and not in any individual or political parties.” Musharraf and Gul said they had also discussed terrorism, international relations and bilateral ties, including the possibility of stepping up defense production cooperation.

The Turkish president had separate meetings with Benazir, Sharif and Imran Khan. Imran said he did not discuss with President Gul much about Pakistan’s political situation other than freedom of judiciary and reinstatement of judges.

Benazir had a 30-minute meeting with Gul. The former premier said she discussed matters relating to peaceful transition to a democratically-elected system. “Turkey is a time-tested friend of Pakistan. We felicitated the Turkish president on the anniversary of Pakistan-Turkey relationship,” Benazir told Arab News.

Pakistan has had close ties with Turkey since the South Asian nation’s formation 60 years ago, with the countries often running cultural exchange programs.