ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A Pakistani delegation led by the Caretaker Information and Law Minister Barrister Ali Zafar participated in the funeral of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the three-time Indian prime minister who passed away yesterday in New Delhi.
The 93-year-old Atal Bihari Vajpayee breathed his last on Thursday at the State-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi wherein he was being treated for kidney infection and chest congestion for over two months.
His last rites took place at 4:00 pm (Indian Standard Time) today (Friday) at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal in New Delhi.
The Indian government has announced a seven-day mourning over the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as the Indian prime minister thrice – first for a 13-day term in 1996, second for a 11-month term from 1998 to 1999, and then for a full term from 1999 to 2004.
“Mr. Vajpayee was a renowned statesman who contributed to bringing a change in India-Pakistan relations and remained a key supporter of SAARC and regional cooperation for development,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Thursday.
“The Government and people of Pakistan extend their heartfelt condolences to his family and to the Government and people of India,” the statement added.
Over the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pakistan’s Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan also expressed heartfelt grief, and said “Sub-continent has lost a phenomenal and a visionary political figure today”.
Lauding Mr. Vajpayees’ role regarding Pak-India bilateral relations, Imran Khan stated that his contribution will never be forgotten. He said that as the foreign minister Mr. Vajpayee strived to open up ways towards normalisation of relations among neighbouring states and had successfully taken this agenda to the new heights after assuming the Office of the Prime Minister.
