PM Shehbaz leaves for Qatar to offer condolences on former emir’s death

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for Qatar on Monday on a one-day visit to convey condolences over the death of former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

In a statement shared on X, the PMO said PML-N President Nawaz Sharif is accompanying the prime minister on the trip. Shehbaz is scheduled to meet Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and express sympathies on the passing of the former ruler.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, are also part of the delegation, the PMO said. The office described the visit as a reflection of the longstanding fraternal ties linking the Qatari royal family, the people of Qatar, and the government and people of Pakistan.

Qatar announced on Sunday that former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani had died. He led the country from 1995 to 2013 and was 74, according to an official government statement.