MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, has issued a formal statement declaring Saturday, 8th February 2025 as the day of mourning throughout the territory concerning the death of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan.
The notification is issued in line with a notification from the Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan, which depicts the deep sorrow of the Government and the people of AJK over the loss of the Prince. Paying tribute to Prince Karim Aga Khan’s contribution and legacy to the State, on the day of mourning, the state flag will be flown at half-mast throughout AJK on the 8th of February.
A formal notification was issued by the Services & General Administration Department (S&GAD) General Section of AJK on 6th February, outlining the directives and informing relevant government bodies. The notification has been circulated to key officials, including the Prime Minister’s office, the Legislative Assembly, law enforcement agencies, judiciary, media outlets, and various public institutions.
The declaration is a gesture of respect and tribute to the late spiritual leader, acknowledging his humanitarian work all over the world and his contribution to different sectors such as education, health, and development.
The Cabinet Division also announced that Pakistan would observe a national day of mourning for Prince Karim Aga Khan’s funeral on Saturday, 8th February.
In the statement, the Prime Minister of Pakistan expressed deep sorrow on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan over the death of His Highness. The national flag will be hoisted at half-mast across the country on the day on the day of sorrow.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while taking to social media, referred to him as a “true friend of Pakistan.” He especially emphasized the late leader’s contribution to global development, education, healthcare, and humanitarian work, considering his legacy would be remembered for generations.
The Prime Minister also spoke with Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the successor to the late Aga Khan, offering condolences on behalf of Pakistan.
Gilgit-Baltistan has announced three days of mourning for the passing of the Aga Khan.
Funeral of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan
The funeral, according to the Ismaili community representative, will take place on Saturday, 8th of February in Lisbon, Portugal. The private ceremony will take place at the Ismaili Centre, which will be attended by a limited number of about several hundred guests.
“This will be a small and dignified private gathering, not a large public event,” said Naguib Kheraj, a senior adviser to the Ismaili community, in a press conference on Thursday.
The Ismaili Imamat has confirmed that the late Aga Khan will be laid to rest in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday, following the ceremony in Lisbon. Dignitaries, members of the Portuguese government, and Ismaili leaders will attend the Lisbon ceremony before his final burial in Egypt.
A Legacy of Philanthropy and Influence
Noted for extraordinary achievements in development, philanthropy, and even horse racing, Prince Karim Aga Khan died on Wednesday in Lisbon, Portugal, at the age of 88. The 49th hereditary imam of the world’s 15 million Ismailis, his name has become synonymous with excellence, particularly in thoroughbred racing, with Shergar probably one of his most renowned racehorses.
He was born on 13th December 1936 in Geneva and spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, before attending Le Rosey School in Switzerland and later studying Islamic history at Harvard University in the United States.
In 1957, after the death of his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, Karim became the Imam of the Ismaili community at the age of 20 years old, as his grandfather had chosen him as his successor over his own son, Prince Aly Khan.
In 1967, the Aga Khan established the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which has since grown into a vast international development organisation employing 80,000 people worldwide. The network has played a vital role in building schools and hospitals and providing electricity to some of the most impoverished regions across Africa and Asia.
Reflecting on his unique influence, Vanity Fair once wrote in a 2013 article, “Few individuals bridge so many divides between the spiritual and the material, East and West, Muslim and Christian as gracefully as he does.”
