Pakistan's Pro-Iran Protests Leave 10 Dead Near US Consulate
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KARACHI: Pro-Iran protests erupted in Pakistan following the death of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, resulting in at least 10 fatalities and over 70 injuries during a violent clash with police at the US consulate. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the actions leading to Khamenei's death as a violation of international law as protests swept multiple cities.
KARACHI: At least 10 people were killed and over 70 injured during violent protests at the US consulate in Karachi on Sunday, fueled by outrage over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Eyewitnesses reported that hundreds of pro-Iranian demonstrators attempted to breach the consulate's gates, resulting in confrontations with the police.
The Karachi police surgeon's office confirmed the fatalities, with many victims suffering from gunshot wounds amid the turmoil. Earlier reports indicated that seven people had died in separate protests in the northern city of Gilgit, as unrest spread across the nation. Thousands took to the streets in Islamabad, wielding images of Khamenei and chanting against the United States and Israel, leading to police deploying tear gas to disperse the escalating crowds.
The protests ignited in response to a US and Israeli aerial campaign that reportedly resulted in Khamenei's death. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recognizing the diplomatic tensions, asserted that the attack was a breach of international law and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people. “It is an age-old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted,” he stated on social media platform X.
The mayhem was palpable as protesters, frustrated by what they perceived as government complicity, demanded their rights to express grief over Khamenei's death. “Our leaders are nothing but stooges of the Americans... The Americans and Israelis will have to pay for this,” vowed one protester, voicing the collective anger and sorrow resonating throughout the nation.
With escalating violence, the embassies of both the United States and the United Kingdom advised their citizens in Pakistan to be vigilant amid growing unrest. In the city of Skardu, demonstrators intensified their action by storming and setting fire to a United Nations office, showcasing a broader pattern of civil disorder.
As the situation remains unpredictable, the government faces mounting pressure to manage public sentiment while navigating its complicated relationships with both the US and Iran.
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