Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has touched down in the Islamic Republic of Iran to offer condolences on the sad demise of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
The Iranian president and foreign minister were among a group of officials killed in a helicopter crash in the Eastern Azerbaijan province of Iran on Sunday.
The prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
PM Sharif will call on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Imam Khamenei and also meet Acting President Dr Mohammad Mokhber to convey condolences on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan.
Earlier on Wednesday, the funeral prayers of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, the foreign minister, and others who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash were performed, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei leading the prayers. Raisi will be buried in his hometown of Mashhad.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held a funeral ceremony at Tehran University. The caskets were covered in Iranian flags and had pictures on them. On President Ebrahim Raisi’s coffin was placed a black turban, which showed that he was related to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Iran declared five days of mourning over Sunday’s crash and encouraged people to attend public mourning sessions. Government employees and schoolchildren usually attend such events in large numbers, while others do it out of patriotism, curiosity, or to see historic events.
