SUMMARY
- Nine killed near US Consulate in Karachi during protests over Khamenei killing
- Security forces fired as demonstrators tried to breach perimeter
- Unrest spread to Gilgit Baltistan, Islamabad and other regions
KARACHI, Pakistan — At least nine people were killed near the United States Consulate in Karachi early Sunday after protests erupted over the reported killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hospital officials and police said.
Security forces opened fire as hundreds of demonstrators attempted to approach the diplomatic compound on Mai Kolachi Road, according to local authorities.
Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said nine bodies were brought to Civil Hospital Karachi. Several others were injured, she said.
The violence marked one of the deadliest protest incidents in Karachi in recent years and underscored the volatility surrounding the reported killing of Khamenei, a development that has triggered demonstrations across multiple countries.
Video verified by Al Jazeera showed injured protesters being carried by bystanders. Witness Aqeel Raza told Reuters that some demonstrators attempted to damage a security gate several hundred yards from the consulate but were stopped by police.
Protests also broke out in Skardu in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, where demonstrators set fire to a United Nations office building, local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir told Reuters. He said no casualties were reported there.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not immediately comment on the Karachi deaths. The US Embassy in Islamabad said it was monitoring the situation and urged American citizens to avoid protest areas.
Analysts said the unrest reflects Pakistan’s delicate balancing act between Washington and Tehran.
Hasan Askari Rizvi, a Lahore based political analyst, said public anger over regional tensions can quickly spill into street mobilization. “Religious and geopolitical narratives intersect in Pakistan’s urban centers,” he said.
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, said attacks on diplomatic facilities risk straining Pakistan/US relations. “Even isolated incidents carry diplomatic consequences,” he said.
Demonstrations were also reported in Iraq, Morocco and Indian administered Kashmir, with protesters gathering near the Green Zone in Baghdad.
Authorities in Karachi said security around diplomatic sites has been reinforced. Further demonstrations were expected later Sunday near Islamabad’s diplomatic enclave.
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