Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the global Ismaili community, passed away on Tuesday, leaving his tens of millions of followers across the world in mourning, the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat said in a statement in the wee hours of Wednesday.
According to the statement, the Aga Khan IV passed away in Lisbon Portugal, surrounded by his family, at the age of 88. It added that the eldest son of the late Aga Khan, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V would succeed as the next Imam of the Ismaili community.
"It is with great sadness that the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat announces that His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, has died peacefully in Lisbon," it said.
"Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V was today named the 50th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, following the unsealing of the Will of his late father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV," the Diwan said in a separate statement.
According to the statements, Prince Karim was a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima (AS), and Hazrat Ali (AS). He was the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan and Joan Yarde-Buller, and grandson and successor of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, Aga Khan III.
Born Prince Shah Karim Al Husseini on December 13, 1936 in Geneva, the Aga Khan IV spent his early years in Nairobi, Kenya, but later returned to Switzerland, attending the exclusive Le Rosey School before going to the US, earning a degree in Islamic history from Harvard in 1959.
At the age of 20, when his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, passed away, he became the 49th imam of the Ismaili community, whose members ranged between 12 to 15 million across 35 countries in Central Asia, Middle East, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and North America.
Prince Karim was the fourth Aga Khanthe title derived from Turkish and Persian words to mean commanding chief which was originally granted in the 1830s by then emperor of Persia to his great-great-grandfather, when the latter married the emperor's daughter.
He founded the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in 1967a group of international development agencies that employs 80,000 people to serve the communities in some of the most fragile and underdeveloped regions of the world.
Before he got into horse racing, the Aga Khan was already a keen skier. In 1962 he participated in the world championships at Chamonix as a member of the British team but two years later opted to compete at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics for Iran.
Besides Prince Rahim, he is survived by his other children - Princess Zahra, Prince Hussain, and Prince Aly Muhammad - as well as his brother Prince Amyn Muhammad, sister Princess Yasmin, and four grandchildren.
According to the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, the Aga Khan, throughout his life, emphasised that "Islam is a thinking, spiritual faith that teaches compassion and tolerance, and upholds the dignity of humankind".
It added: "His Highness dedicated his life to improving the living condition of his community and the peoples of the countries in which they live, irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity or religion. He was respected globally as a statesman and defender of peace and human progress."
Condolences
The passing of the Aga Khan drew condolences from far and wide, including the president and prime minister of Pakistan, the United Nations, top politicians in Canada and others. In their condolence messages, they expressed deep shock and sadness over his passing.
President Asif Zardari, who is on an official visit to China, said in a statement that Pakistan had lost a great friend, who made great contributions towards the uplift of the country's social sector, particularly in the health, education and community development.
He termed Prince Karim Aga Khan's demise "a monumental loss". The president extended his deepest condolences to the Aga Khan family and the global Ismaili community on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan.
Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also extended his condolences, calling Prince Karim Aga Khan a great humanitarian dedicated to peace and humanity. In his condolence message, he acknowledged Aga Khan's lifelong commitment to social welfare, particularly in education and healthcare.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on his X handle, praised Prince Karim Aga Khan's visionary leadership and his generosity. He highlighted Aga Khan's enduring legacy, which transcended borders and brought hope and progress to countless communities in need.
The Prime Minister's Office later said that Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb would represent Pakistan at funeral of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. It said that instructions for necessary coordination had been issued to foreign ministry.
In a message on X, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed deep sadness over the passing of Aga Khan, highlighting his immense philanthropic contributions globally. He emphasised the Aga Khan's special bond with Pakistan and his unmatched role in the nation's development.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also shared his sorrow on X, praising the Aga Khan as a symbol of peace, tolerance, and compassion. Guterres conveyed condolences to the Aga Khan's family and the global Ismaili community.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed admiration for the Aga Khan's lifelong dedication to promoting peace and prosperity. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai acknowledged the Aga Khan's lasting impact on education, health, and development.
(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)
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