Turkish drama ‘Ertugrul Ghazi’ wins hearts of Pakistani fans: PTV

ISLAMABAD: ‘Ertugrul Ghazi’, a Turkish historical fiction drama series, has become most popular among the people of Pakistan after state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) begun airing it on the orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to a statement issued by PTV, the first episode of the show was viewed by millions of people across Pakistan on PTV Home’s YouTube channel.

‘Ertugrul Ghazi’ was equally popular among women, children and adults in Pakistan, which was evident from social media trends, according to a public survey.

The statement said, the number of daily phone calls, emails and other messages being received by the PTV is another proof of its popularity. The story of ‘Ertugrul’ is based on the ascendance of Muslims in the 12th Century, their quests and great deeds.

After gaining sweeping popularity in the Middle East and South Africa, the Turkish television series ‘Dirilis: Ertugrul’ has become a monster hit in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan personally recommended the nation to watch the action-packed drama. He not only recommending the popular serial but insisted that all five seasons should be dubbed in Urdu so that the general public can watch and understand.

People often described it as a Turkish Game of Thrones. The serial is woven around 13th century Anatolia and tells the story prior to the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. It illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, father of the empire’s first leader.