• Zardari says Pakistan has lost a great friend
• PM says his legacy will continue to inspire generations
• UN chief, King Charles, Malala, Trudeau saddened
LISBON / ISLAMABAD: Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V was on Wednesday named the 50th hereditary imam (spiritual leader), following the unsealing of the will of his late father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, who died in Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday night. He was 88.
According to a press release issued by Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is a direct descendant of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
Leaders and prominent figures from Pakistan and around the world expressed deep shock and profound sadness over the passing of Prince Karim Aga Khan, with tributes pouring in from all corners of the globe in honour of his legacy and leadership.
President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan had lost a great friend who made great contributions to the uplift of the country’s social sector, particularly in health, education and community development. The invaluable services of the Aga Khan for humanity will always be remembered, the President’s secretariat quoted him as saying.
The president termed the Aga Khan’s demise a monumental loss, saying words could not adequately express his sorrow at the loss of such a devoted friend of Pakistan. He said the late Aga Khan revolutionised the educational landscape in Gilgit-Baltistan, establishing world-class educational standards in the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Aga Khan was a man of vision, faith and generosity and his enduring legacy will continue to inspire generations. His contributions transcended borders, bringing hope and progress to communities in need, he added.
In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said the Aga Khan’s enduring legacy will continue to inspire generations. His contributions transcended borders, bringing hope and progress to communities in need.
The Foreign Office, in a statement, said that spiritual leader, statesman, visionary and philanthropist, Aga Khan combined many roles and stood out as a unifying figure in a fragmented world.
The Gilgit-Baltistan government announced three days of mourning. During this period (Feb 5 to 7), the national flag will remain at half-mast on all government buildings.
‘A symbol of peace’
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres described Aga Khan as “a symbol of peace, tolerance and compassion in our troubled world”.
Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace laureate, said his legacy would “live on through the incredible work he led for education, health and development around the world”.
Britain’s King Charles was “deeply saddened” by the death of Aga Khan, who was “a personal friend of many years”, an unnamed royal source was quoted in the British press as saying.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described Aga Khan as an “extraordinary man of vision, faith, and generosity” who “devoted his life to peace and prosperity for all”.
Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2025
