By Rana Farooq Ashraf
Today, the pen trembles, the pages of time are drenched in tears, and words themselves seem to sob. The waves of grief rising from the atmosphere of Tehran have not only enveloped the Alborz Mountains but have also pierced the hearts of millions of Pakistanis living in the lap of the Himalayas. The news of the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, felt as if the eye of the heavens witnessed a sight that makes the soul shudder. This is not merely the passing of an individual; it is the end of a golden era, the extinguishing of a radiant candle that for decades kept the flame of hope alive amidst the darkness of the Ummah. Today, every home in Pakistan where the spirit of freedom lives is in mourning. From the waves of the Indus to the mountains of Khyber, a single lament is heard: that the brave soldier of the Islamic world, the visionary leader, and the compassionate father-figure who knew how to look the oppressor in the eye, has been taken from us.
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President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, whose family’s relationship with Iran spans decades and is scented with the fragrance of mutual affection, is in a state of intense anguish over this great tragedy. Every word issued from the Presidency reflects deep sorrow. The President expressed his feelings by stating that the passing of Ayatollah Khamenei is not just Iran’s loss, but akin to the breaking of the very arm of the Islamic nation that always provided support to the weak. President Zardari, who is well-acquainted with the ups and downs of politics and the pain of losing loved ones, shares the grief of his Iranian brothers like a younger brother. He remarked that the foresight and courage of the Supreme Leader, which brought balance to the region, is a golden chapter of history. The heartfelt manner in which the President offered condolences to the Iranian leadership and people proves that Pak-Iran friendship is not merely geographical but a spiritual bond that even death cannot sever.
This same wave of grief has deeply affected the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. As a young leader who has witnessed the wounds of martyrdom in his own family—his mother, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and his grandfather, Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto—he understands the meaning of martyrdom better than any other politician. For Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, this news was nothing short of a catastrophe. With tearful eyes, he acknowledged the reality that the way Ayatollah Khamenei refused to bow before imperialism was a practical interpretation of the great lesson of Karbala that is part of our collective faith. The PPP Chairman stated that in this dark era of violence and war, where human lives seem to have lost value, targeting the top leadership of Iran is a stain on the face of international peace that can never be washed away. To him, this martyrdom is a message that giving one’s life in the path of truth is the ultimate life.
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The condition of the millions of “Jiyalas” and workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party is palpable. These workers, who stand guard over Bhutto’s philosophy, are today weeping for the departed leader. From the narrow streets of Karachi to the historic neighborhoods of Lahore, and from the rugged paths of Quetta to the valleys of Parachinar, every Jiyala feels orphaned today. These are the workers who know that when a great leader departs, the direction of history changes. The way PPP workers organized Quran Khawani and Fateha in mosques and Imambargahs is a living testament to their profound devotion to the Supreme Leader. They maintain that Khamenei did not belong to Tehran alone; he was the heartbeat of every oppressed soul that was crushed or suppressed. Today, the eyes of the Jiyalas are moist because they have lost that minaret of knowledge and wisdom whose light benefited the entire region.
The life of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was a book where every page was written with patience, steadfastness, and piety. He led a country around which nets of sanctions were woven from all sides, yet his resolve never wavered. He taught that if faith is strong, no superpower in the world can imprison your intentions. His martyrdom has proven that he was not just the heir to the pulpit and the niche, but also a valiant man of the battlefield. The martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and other high-ranking officials alongside him has increased the intensity of this tragedy to a point where words fail to encompass it. These were individuals who dreamed of taking Iran to new heights and fell into eternal sleep while seeking the realization of that very dream.
O brave people of Iran! If today the streets of Tehran are guarded by sadness, rest assured that every child in Pakistan is weeping with you. We know what it means to lose a leader whose smile brought peace to the nation and whose roar made the palaces of enemies tremble. But remember, a martyr never dies; they begin to flow in the blood of their nation. The candle lit by Ayatollah Khamenei will remain bright until the end of time. His mission, his resolve, and his thought have today become a sturdy tree whose roots will no longer be uprooted by any storm. These words flowing from the pen of Rana Farooq Ashraf are not just a text but the call of the hearts of millions of Pakistanis who are devastated by the grief of their Iranian brothers. The empathy of President Zardari, the sorrow of Bilawal Bhutto, and the sobs of the Jiyalas are uniting into a prayer that will reach the Divine Throne. We pray that Allah Almighty raises the ranks of the martyrs, grants them a high place in the company of the Ma’sumeen (AS), and gives the Iranian nation the courage to bear this mountain-like grief. Today we are all one; our pain is one and our destination is one.
Farewell, O Exalted Leader! Your physical body will be entrusted to the earth, but your greatness will forever shine as the jewel on the forehead of history. You lived with dignity and drank the cup of martyrdom with the same dignity. Until the end of time, the freedom-seekers will chant your name, and your blood will become the herald of the decline of those oppressors who trampled the ambassadors of peace in dust and blood. Every atom of Pakistan salutes you today.
Surely we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.
