ISLAMABAD, 3 December 2007 — Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Islamabad yesterday, becoming the first foreign leader to do so since the declaration of emergency rule, officials said.

Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf and his wife Sehba received Gul and his delegation at Chaklala military base near Islamabad, a gesture in recognition of the warm relations between the two countries, they said. A Pakistan armed forces contingent presented the guard of honor to Gul and traditional artillery guns were fired to herald his arrival.

Gul will hold talks with Musharraf during the state visit today, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said Gul’s visit would focus on “issues of bilateral, regional and global importance.” The Turkish leader is accompanied by his wife, senior officials and Turkish business leaders.

Gul is also expected to hold separate meetings with former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif today.

Sharif led separate rallies yesterday of thousands of supporters in the eastern city of Lahore, his political stronghold, and in the nearby town of Phoolnagar. Sharif denounced President Musharraf, accusing him of blindly following Washington’s dictates. Sharif confirmed he was to meet with Benazir today to discuss boycotting parliamentary elections scheduled for Jan. 8. “Today Pakistan is in danger,” Sharif said at a gathering of more than 6,000 supporters from his Pakistan Muslim League-N party.

Six Civilians Killed

At least six civilians were killed and 12 injured as several artillery shells fired by security forces missed the militants’ position and landed in a residential area in Pakistan’s restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, officials said yesterday.

Two rounds of artillery hit two houses in a village near Miranshah, the main city in North Waziristan.