PM Shehbaz, President Zardari condole demise of Iran’s Raisi

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on the death of President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, announced a day of mourning in the country.

“They were good friends of Pakistan. Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions and in solidarity with Brotherly Iran,” the prime minister said in a statement after a helicopter carrying President Raisi along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and others crashed in the Varzaqan region in the northwest province of East Azerbaijan.

The prime minister said that he had been anxiously following developments regarding the reported crash landing of President Raisi’s helicopter.

“Was hoping for good news. Alas, this was not to be,” he remarked. He recalled that Pakistan had the pleasure of hosting President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on a historic visit less than a month ago and remembered them as “good friends of Pakistan.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz prayed to Allah Almighty for peace for the martyred souls and for the Iranian nation to overcome this tragedy with customary courage.

In a separate message, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound shock and sorrow over the tragic death of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, calling it a great loss not only for Iran but for the entire Muslim Ummah.

“Today, Pakistan mourns the loss of a great friend. Just last month, we had the honor of hosting him in Pakistan. During our discussions, I found him very keen on strengthening our bilateral relations. Agha Raisi always had a special place for Pakistan and its people, in whichever position he served whether as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran or as Custodian of Imam Raza’s (A.S) Shrine,” President Zardari said in a statement.