Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly denounced the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in what Iranian state media described as joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, labeling the act a clear breach of international norms.
A Grave Breach of Convention
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Pakistani premier asserted that targeting a head of state is a violation of long-standing international law. “It is an age-old convention that heads of state or government should not be targeted,” PM Shehbaz stated, offering Pakistan’s official condemnation of the incident reported to have occurred on February 28.
Pakistan Stands in Solidarity with Iran
The Prime Minister extended Pakistan’s deepest condolences to the Iranian government and its people. “The Government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow,” he said, referring to Khamenei’s death as a martyrdom and an “irreparable loss.” President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a separate statement expressing profound sorrow over the event.
Iran Declares Mourning, Announces Transition Plan
In response to the leader’s death, the Iranian government has declared 40 days of national mourning and a seven-day public holiday, according to the state-run Fars news agency. Iranian state television reported that a transitional leadership council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, will guide the country in the interim period.
Regional Fallout and Tensions
The killing has triggered immediate regional repercussions. In Pakistan, protests erupted in major cities, with local reports indicating several fatalities in Karachi. The Pakistani government has also reportedly warned the UN Security Council that the attack risks a wider regional conflagration, underscoring the severe escalation in Middle East tensions.
