Shehbaz calls Khamenei’s assassination a ‘violation of international law’ | The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday extended condolences to the people of Iran over the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling the attack a grave violation of international law.

“It is an age-old convention that the heads of state and government should not be targeted,” said the prime minister, while expressing concern over the violation of international law norms.

A day earlier, the US and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran that pushed the Middle East into renewed military confrontation as its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assassinated in strikes. In response, Iran targeted Israel and US bases in the Middle East. Explosions were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.

In a message posted on X today, the prime minister said, “The Government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend our most sincere condolences on the martyrdom of his Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.”

“We pray for the departed soul. May Allah Almighty grant patience and strength to the Iranian people to bear this irreparable loss,” the prime minister added.

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed profound sorrow over the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders, conveying heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In a statement, Zardari said Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this period of grief and shares in their loss. He noted that the passing of a leader of such stature, along with other senior figures who were martyred alongside him, will be deeply felt across the Muslim world.

“President Zardari prayed for the departed souls and asked Almighty Allah to grant patience and fortitude to the people of Iran during this difficult time,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the recent attacks on Iran were deeply regrettable and a source of profound sorrow. He stated that Pakistan had supported Iran through all possible diplomatic and moral channels and had clearly condemned the attack against Iran at the United Nations. 

Asif appealed to religious parties and the public in Pakistan to exercise restraint.

“In such circumstances, if we turn protests into violence within our own country or take the law into our own hands, it will serve the designs of our enemies,” he said. “It is our collective responsibility to control our emotions, keep protests peaceful, and prevent any unrest or damage within the country.”

He added that national unity and stability were Pakistan’s true strength at this time.

The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has opened a new chapter of escalation and instability in the Middle East, with Israel launching a new wave of strikes on Tehran on Sunday, saying it aimed to dominate the skies after killing Iran’s supreme leader and leaving the Islamic Republic grappling to rebuild its leadership amid its biggest test in five decades.

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Khamenei, who built Iran into a powerful anti-US force and spread its sway across the Middle East during his 36-year iron-fisted rule, was working in his office at the time of Saturday’s attack, state media said. The raid also assisinated his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law.

Inside Iran, some grieved for Khamenei while others celebrated his death, exposing a deep fault line in a country stunned by the sudden demise of the man who ruled for decades.

Thousands of Iranians were killed during a crackdown authorised by Khamenei against anti-government protests in January, the deadliest wave of unrest since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.