Zardari expresses grief on Basu's death

Islamabad, Jan 18 (PTI) Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari Monday expressed deep sorrow and grief at the death of
veteran Indian communist leader Jyoti Basu and described his
demise as a great loss.
Paying tributes to Basu's political acumen and
contribution to the development of West Bengal state, Zardari
described him as a great statesman.
Basu was among prominent leaders who had the reputation
for taking fiercely independent positions, he said, expressing
deep sorrow and grief over the Marxist veteran's death.
Basu died on Sunday after prolonged illness at the age of
95.
He served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1977 to
2000, making him India's longest-serving Chief Minister. PTI
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