12 November 2004	Friday	28 Ramazan 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri Thursday paid rich tributes to Yasser Arafat and termed him a great leader.

He expressed grief and sorrow on the demise of President Arafat and said "Pakistani nation and the Muslim world is in deep shock over the death of the great Palestinian leader who struggled throughout his life for independent state for Palestinian people.

"We stand by our Palestinian brethren in this moment of grief", he added.

He said Pakistan will continue to extend its fullest support to the Palestinian cause.

He expressed the hope that people of Palestine will fulfil his dream and Palestine would emerge on the world map as a liberated and independent state according to the wishes of Palestinians.

Pakistan Muslim League secretary-general Mushahid Hussain on Thursday went to the Palestinian embassy to condole the death of President Arafat.

Mr Hussain also conveyed a special message of condolences from PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to the Palestine Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ahmed Abdel Razzaq El-Salman, a PML press release said.

In his message Chaudhry Shujaat termed Arafat as a great freedom fighter and a friend of Pakistan whose death would be mourned by millions of people all over the world.

The senator said President Arafat had visited Pakistan on several occasions and showed great love for Pakistan.

The Palestinian ambassador thanked the PML leadership for this gesture.

SOOMRO: Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro also expressed his shock and grief over the sad demise of President of Palestinian State.

In his message of condolence, the Senate chairman recounted the services of Yasser Arafat and said he was the real leader of Palestinians.

"His death was a great loss to the people of Palestine and caused a serious blow to the Palestinian cause," said Mr Soomro.

Senate Deputy Chairman Khalilur Rehman and Leader of the House Senator Wasim Sajjad also condoled the death of the Palestinian leader and said he was a symbol of the aspirations of the people of Palestine.

They extolled the leadership of President Arafat for the Palestinian cause and said the history will remember him as a man whose devotion and commitment to the Palestinian cause was never in doubt.