Rawalpindi, May 7, 2025: Funeral prayers were offered today in Islamabad for seven-year-old Irtaza Abbas Turi, the son of Lieutenant Colonel Zaheer Abbas Turi, who embraced martyrdom in Dawarandi, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, following unprovoked Indian cross-border aggression.
The solemn ceremony was attended by the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Information Minister, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and a large number of senior civil and military officials, as well as soldiers, relatives of the martyr, and members of the public.
In his remarks following the funeral, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned India’s targeting of civilians, describing it as a cowardly and inhumane act. He stated that the deliberate attacks on innocent lives — including children, women, and the elderly — reflect the aggressive and arrogant mindset of the Indian leadership and pose a serious threat to regional and international peace.
Both the President and the Prime Minister paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the Pakistani Armed Forces, affirming that the military is responding forcefully and decisively across all fronts. They vowed that India’s violations of international law and humanitarian norms would not go unanswered.
In a joint prayer, the national leaders said:
“May Allah grant eternal peace to the soul of young Irtaza and all martyrs of this unjust aggression. May He also grant strength and patience to their families to bear this irreparable loss. Ameen.”
The funeral marked a moment of national mourning and unity, as the country continues to stand firm against escalating hostilities from across the border.