Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Monday that Pakistan will observe a day of mourning to honor the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and other senior officials who perished in a helicopter crash.
“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,” PM Shehbaz stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I along with the government and people of Pakistan extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss,” the premier expressed, offering prayers for the martyred souls. “The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s remarks followed the confirmation of President Raisi’s death by Iran’s Vice President Mohsen Mansouri, who made a statement on social media and state television Monday morning.
The tragic accident occurred as President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian, and other high-ranking officials were returning to Iran after attending a dam inauguration ceremony on Iran’s border with the Republic of Azerbaijan. The helicopter crashed amid heavy fog in the Varzaqan region of East Azerbaijan province on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati and Mehdi Mousavi, head of Raisi’s guard team, were also on board the ill-fated aircraft. A large-scale search and rescue operation in the foggy mountainous region led to the wreckage being located on Monday morning.
In addition to the Prime Minister, President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed profound shock and sorrow over the tragic incident. “Pakistan mourns the loss of a great friend […] may Allah Almighty bless his soul and grant patience and strength to his family and the people of Iran in this time of irreparable loss,” read a statement from the President House.
President Zardari highlighted the significant role President Raisi played in fostering strong ties between Iran and Pakistan. “He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered in Iran, Pakistan, and the Islamic World for his efforts to enhance relations with regional and Islamic countries,” the statement noted.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), also conveyed his condolences, stating, “I express my heartfelt condolences to the government and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran […] every Pakistani is saddened by this tragic incident and shares the grief of his Iranian brothers and sisters equally.”
The news comes in the wake of President Raisi’s productive visit to Pakistan in April, where he engaged in discussions aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, connectivity, energy, and people-to-people contacts. During his visit, he met with President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and the chief ministers and governors of Sindh and Punjab. Raisi’s visit also included stops in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, where he was accompanied by his spouse, a high-level delegation, and a large business contingent.
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