ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed shock and extended his condolences on Mon-day over the sudden death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
The helicopter, carrying President Raisi, the foreign minister, and other officials, went down in a foggy, mountainous region of northwest Iran, with all occupants pronounced dead after an hours-long search.
The premier extended his “deepest condolences and sympathies” to the Iranian nation on the terrible loss through his message released on X (formerly Twitter).
“The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” the statement added.
PM Shehbaz expressed that he was “hoping for good news” regarding the reported crash landing of President Raisi’s helicopter. “Alas, this was not to be.”
Iranian state agencies confirmed the president’s death earlier today after the helicopter, carrying nine people, crashed into a mountain in heavy fog while returning from the Iran-Azerbaijan border, Iranian officials said.
The premier, while grieving the loss of President Raisi, also reminisced about Raisi’s and Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian’s recent visit to Pakistan last month.
PM Shehbaz added that the country will mourn the great loss by hoisting the flag at half-mast and ob-serving a day of mourning.
Later, PM Shehbaz also visited the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad to condole the tragic death of the Ira-nian president.
On the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif said that he was in deep grief and shock upon listening to the martyr-dom of Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in the incident.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Iran in this time of sorrow and grief. Our sympathies and prayers are with the families of the martyrs and the people of Iran,” he added.
Shehbaz said that Raisi was a brilliant scholar and visionary leader, adding that Pakistan lost a friend today.
The premier said that the services of Raisi to his own nation as well as to the strengthening of Pakistan-Iran relations and regional cooperation will always be remembered. “President Raisi’s visit to Pakistan last month further strengthened our bilateral relations,” he added.
He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant the departed soul a higher status in heaven.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also ex-pressed profound grief over the tragic demise of the Iranian president and his companions in a heli-copter crash.
In his statement, Bilawal said, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the people of Iran on the untime-ly passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and their fellow trav-ellers.”
“The news of this devastating incident has deeply saddened every Pakistani, and we stand united in solidarity with our Iranian brothers and sisters during this difficult time,” the former foreign minister said.
“I convey sincere condolences to the government and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the PPP chairperson added.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA), Omar Ayub Khan also expressed deep sorrow and condolences.
“The passing of President Raisi has deprived the Muslim ummah of a great and courageous leader,” stated Ayub.
“Pakistan has lost a sincere friend with the demise of President Raisi,” he added.
Ayub noted that President Raisi was a proponent of progress and prosperity in the region and that the whole nation is deeply saddened by his sudden demise.
“In these difficult times, we stand with the Iranian people and share their sorrow equally,” reiterated the opposition leader. He prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyred individuals and for pa-tience for their families and the Iranian nation to bear the irreparable loss.
The helicopter, carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials, lost contact approximately 30 minutes into the flight. This sparked immediate concerns and a massive search and rescue operation.
The country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Mon-day after an hourslong search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest, state media reported. Raisi was 63. –Agencies
