By Our Correspondent: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, attended the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran on Friday, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the Iranian leadership and people during the national mourning period.
Prime Minister Shehbaz offered condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and the bereaved families on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan. He paid tribute to the late leader and emphasized Pakistan’s support for Iran before departing for Istanbul to continue his official visit to Turkiye.
Field Marshal Asim Munir also participated in the funeral ceremony and later returned to Pakistan. He was seen off by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and senior Iranian officials.
The funeral at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla drew thousands of mourners, senior Iranian officials, religious scholars, and foreign dignitaries. Ayatollah Khamenei’s coffin, draped in Iran’s national flag, was carried into the ceremonial complex as crowds gathered to pay their final respects.
Iranian authorities said the funeral proceedings will continue over the coming days before the late leader’s body is taken through the religious cities of Qom, Najaf, and Karbala, followed by burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz was accompanied by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Secretary General Nayyer Bukhari, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Separately, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani also arrived in Tehran with a parliamentary delegation to attend the funeral ceremonies.
