Dozens Killed In Pakistan Protests After Khamenei's Death
Violent pro-Iran demonstrations targeted U.S. consulates in Karachi and other Pakistani cities after U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
RedStateScary Scene: Iraqi Pro-Ayatollah Protesters Storm Baghdad Green Zone, Attempt to Attack US Embassy
RedStateWatch: Pro-Khamenei Pakistanis Storm U.S. Consulate, Quickly and Violently Find Out
The GuardianAt least 22 people dead after pro-Iran protests in Pakistan and Iraq
PJ MediaAt Least 9 Killed as Pro-Khamenei Rioters Attack U.S. Consulate in Pakistan
Overview
Violent clashes in Pakistan left roughly 6 to 22 people dead and roughly 50 to more than 120 wounded as protesters attempted to storm the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, authorities said.
The unrest followed U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was 86 and had led Iran for 36 years.
Security forces in Pakistan used gunfire, tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators, officials said, and the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan said it was monitoring protests at consulates nationwide.
Clashes also erupted in Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan with roughly 10 to 12 people killed in Gilgit-Baltistan and protesters attacking U.N. and government offices, local officials said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and provincial authorities appealed for calm while security was stepped up around the U.S. Embassy and consulates as officials sought to prevent further violence.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the unrest as primarily a security incident, prioritizing official and police accounts and emphasizing violence, damaged property, and casualty counts. They foreground state responses (embassy warnings, troop deployment) and few protester quotes, which narrows context about motives and political grievances behind demonstrations.
FAQ
The protests were triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was 86 and had led Iran for 36 years.
Reports indicate 6 to 9 people killed and 20 to more than 120 wounded in Karachi during clashes at the U.S. Consulate.
Clashes erupted in Gilgit-Baltistan (10-12 killed), Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and Multan, with attacks on U.N. and government offices.
Security forces used gunfire, tear gas, and batons to disperse crowds; security was increased around U.S. embassies and consulates, and officials appealed for calm.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences to Iran, called the killing a violation of international law, and reaffirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions.
