Govt declares national day of mourning on Feb 8 to honour Aga Khan IV

Prince Karim al-Husseini, 88, passed away on Tuesday, and his funeral will be held privately in Lisbon on Saturday.

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The funeral of Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, will be held privately in Lisbon on Saturday, while Pakistan observes a national day of mourning on February 8 to honor his passing.

Prince Karim al-Husseini, aged 88, passed away on Tuesday, marking the end of his long tenure as the 49th Imam of the Nizari Ismailis, a branch of Shia Islam with millions of followers across Central and South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

The funeral ceremony will be held at the Ismaili community center in central Lisbon, attended by several hundred guests.

Naguib Kheraj, a senior adviser to the Ismaili community, confirmed that it would be a private and dignified event. "This is a private event, not a big public event… It will be short and dignified," Kheraj told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will observe a national day of mourning on Saturday, February 8, to honor the funeral of Prince Karim Aga Khan.

A notification issued by the Cabinet Division confirmed the decision, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing profound grief on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan. The national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country on the day.

On X(formerly Twitter), PM Shehbaz described Aga Khan as a “true friend of Pakistan,” acknowledging his significant contributions to global development, education, health, and humanitarian efforts. He added that his visionary leadership touched many lives.

The Prime Minister also conveyed his condolences to Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the Aga Khan IV's successor, in a phone conversation.

Additionally, the GB government also declared three days of mourning following the Aga Khan's passing.

Aga Khan IV established the global headquarters of the Ismaili community in Lisbon in 2015, making the city an important center for the community.

Prince Karim’s eldest son, 53-year-old Rahim al-Husseini, will succeed him as the new Aga Khan V.

The official ceremony to mark the accession of the new imam will take place on Tuesday morning at the Ismaili community headquarters in Lisbon. This, too, will be a private ceremony to honor the succession of the new spiritual leader.