TEHRAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Friday attended the funeral ceremony of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, leading a high-level Pakistani delegation.
The prime minister attended the ceremony at the invitation of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian. The Pakistani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and other senior government officials.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz paid tribute to the late Iranian leader, describing him as a statesman who guided the Iranian nation with wisdom and foresight for decades. He expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with President Pezeshkian, the Khamenei family, and the people of Iran, and prayed for the departed leader’s forgiveness.
A parliamentary delegation led by Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, along with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other parliamentarians, also attended the funeral.
Following the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz departed for Istanbul on an official visit to Türkiye at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on expanding trade and investment cooperation. The two leaders are also expected to discuss regional peace and security.
During his stay in Istanbul, the prime minister will address a Pakistan-hosted Business Conference aimed at showcasing investment opportunities in special economic zones, energy, information technology and the privatisation sector before leading Turkish businesses and investors.
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