ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced one-day mourning over the death of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.
The flag will fly at half-mast on all the government buildings across the country.
Nawaz attends funeral of King Abdullah in Riyadh
Meanwhile, the prime minister attended the funeral of late Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz offered at the Prince Turki Bin Abdul Aziz mosque in Riyadh on Friday afternoon.
A number of world leaders also attended the funeral of the Saudi leader.
The Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi also offered funeral prayers of King Abdullah.
In his statement over the death of Saudi King Shah Abdullah, Nawaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and grief. He said that being Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah had a deep respect in the hearts of Pakistani people.
The prime minister said that Pakistani nation stands with King’s family and Saudi nation in this hour of grief.
Sharif had also visited Saudi Arabia last week to enquire the health of King Abdullah.
Earlier, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia passed away in Riyadh at the age of 90 after suffering from lung infection for several weeks while Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud was officially appointed as the new Saudi king and Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz the new crown prince.
“His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 am this morning,” said the statement carried by state television.
King Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 in the Kingdom upon the death of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz. He was also Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers and Commander of the National Guard.
On the other hand, King Salman has been crown prince and defence minister since 2012. He was governor of Riyadh province for five decades.
