At least 17 individuals lost their lives in various locations across Pakistan yesterday as demonstrators expressed anger over the demise of Iran’s top leader and engaged in actions targeting US diplomatic premises. In the bustling city of Karachi, a reporter from AFP observed numerous pro-Iranian protestors attempting to breach the US consulate, leading to confrontations with law enforcement personnel. The Karachi police surgeon’s office stated that by the evening of the same day, at least 10 individuals had perished, and over 70 had sustained injuries. An earlier report from a hospital indicated that nine individuals had succumbed to gunshot wounds. In the city of Gilgit in the north, a minimum of seven individuals were killed and several others were wounded during clashes with the police, as confirmed by rescue official Zaheer Shah in communication with AFP. In the capital city of Islamabad, a large crowd gathered with many individuals holding images of the late Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, while AFP noted police employing tear gas to disperse gatherings near the US embassy.
The commencement of a significant aerial operation by Israel and the United States on Iran on Saturday resulted in the swift demise of the longstanding supreme leader, triggering strong reactions in neighboring Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, known for close relations with both the US and Iran, denounced the killing of Khamenei as a breach of international law in a statement made on Thursday evening. Sharif emphasized the long-standing principle that heads of state or government should not be targeted. He extended heartfelt condolences to the people of Iran on the loss of Khamenei, stating solidarity in their time of mourning.
During the protests in Karachi, participants vocalized anti-US, anti-Israel, and anti-allies sentiments. One protester, Sabir Hussain, expressed to AFP, “We don’t want anything in Pakistan that is associated with the US.” Earlier, a group of young individuals breached the main gate and accessed the driveway of the consulate building, causing damage to some windows. Law enforcement officers dispersed the protestors using tear gas, leading to their retreat, according to the AFP correspondent on the scene. Both the US and British embassies in Pakistan advised their citizens to exercise caution in the nation.
In Islamabad, approximately 4,000 individuals participated in the demonstrations, during which AFP journalists reported hearing gunfire overhead, likely to disperse the crowd. Tear gas was employed even before the scheduled commencement of a rally at 3:00 pm. In the northern city of Skardu, protestors forcefully entered and set ablaze a United Nations office, resulting in billows of black smoke emanating from the structure, as observed by an AFP journalist. Several vehicles in close proximity were completely incinerated. Additionally, thousands of people rallied in the eastern city of Lahore. The event triggered various governments across predominantly Muslim regions in South and Southeast Asia to reiterate appeals for restraint as protests erupted in multiple urban centers, with certain religious and political groups honoring the cleric as a “martyr.”