Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir paid their respects on Friday to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a US-Israeli strike on February 28.
Following the ceremony, both leaders departed for other engagements. PM Shehbaz attended Khamenei’s funeral where he offered “rich tribute” and expressed solidarity with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, and the people of Iran during their time of “national grief”. CDF Munir departed for Pakistan after the ceremony. Iranian officials saw him off.
Khamenei’s body arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Friday ahead of his funeral where other foreign dignitaries, clerics, officials, and mourners also paid respects as Khamenei lay in state in a vast hall.
Photos showed mourners carrying Khamenei’s coffin, emblazoned with Iran’s tricolour flag, into the Grand Mosalla. Other images depicted crowds at pre-funeral ceremonies dressed in black and standing against red flowers and white butterflies. Revolutionary Guards head Ahmad Vahidi also paid his respects.
The funeral ceremonies for Khamenei are scheduled to take place through various locations, including Tehran’s seat of power and the holy cities. Millions of people from around 30 countries are expected to attend Saturday’s official ceremony.
Source: Original report
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