FM Qureshi offers condolences over US senator John McCain's death

FM Qureshi offers condolences over US senator John McCain's death

Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday expressed his condolences over the death of US senator John McCain, who has died aged 81.

“Thoughts and prayers of the people of Pakistan are with the family and friends of Senator McCain,” said a statement issued by Foreign Office.

“Senator John McCain had an illustrious military and public service career and was admired across the spectrum of US politics as a man of integrity and a champion of civility,” the statement read.

The statement further added, “As Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator McCain always stood for strong Pakistan-US relations and a cooperative approach for promoting peace and building stability in the region. He will be greatly missed in Pakistan."

Tributes from former US presidents and across the political spectrum have poured in for Republican Senator John McCain.

Barack Obama, who beat Mr McCain to the White House in 2008, said they shared a "fidelity to something higher".

George W Bush described him as "a patriot of the highest order".

President Donald Trump, whom Mr McCain had strongly criticised, tweeted his "deepest sympathies" to Mr McCain's family but did not comment on his life.

McCain was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in July last year and had been undergoing treatment.

But on Friday his family announced he had decided to discontinue that treatment.

A statement from his office on Saturday said Mr McCain died in Arizona surrounded by family members.