Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday condemned the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint strikes by the United States and Israel, describing the incident as a “violation of the norms of international law.”
The Iranian government confirmed Khamenei’s martyrdom on Sunday morning after Israel and the U.S. both indicated they had assassinated him in an airstrike the previous day.
Writing on X, P.M. Sharif said it was an age-old convention that heads of state or government should not be targeted. “The Government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,” he said.
“We pray for the departed soul. May Allah Almighty grant patience and strength to the Iranian people to bear this irreparable loss,” he added.
In a separate statement, President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed profound sorrow over the martyrdom of the Iranian supreme leader and senior Iranian leadership. He conveyed “heartfelt condolences and prayers for patience and strength to the government and people of Iran during this period of grief,” according to a statement issued by the President’s Office.
The Iranian government has declared 40 days of public mourning over the martyrdom of the ayatollah, including seven days of official public holidays.
Protests erupted in several cities across Pakistan over the assassination, with clashes between law enforcers and demonstrators resulting in at least 12 deaths. Authorities have urged protesters to exercise restraint and protest peacefully.