Protests broke out across Pakistan on Sunday after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. The unrest led to violent clashes, arson and anti-US demonstrations in several Shia-majority areas, with at least 21 people reported dead as protests in multiple cities turned deadly.
Violence occurred near the US consulates in Karachi and Lahore, where hundreds of protesters gathered, damaged property and set parts of the premises on fire, according to reports and footage. In Skardu, in the Shia-majority Gilgit-Baltistan region, demonstrators also set fire to a United Nations office and damaged nearby buildings. Authorities increased security around diplomatic missions and other sensitive locations as tensions linked to the Iran conflict spilled into Pakistan.
In Karachi, several protesters were killed and more than 60 injured after demonstrators forced their way into and vandalised sections of the US Consulate compound, leading to clashes and gunfire. In Skardu, fires damaged parts of the UN office complex as well as surrounding public and institutional facilities.
Protests also spread to Lahore, Peshawar and other cities, where crowds assembled outside US diplomatic sites, offered prayers and chanted slogans condemning Washington and Tel Aviv over Khamenei’s death.
The US Embassy in Islamabad issued a security alert advising American citizens to avoid large gatherings and follow local news, as demonstrations were reported near consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the government and people of Pakistan stand with Iran in mourning the killing of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and extended condolences. Following the nationwide unrest, he also expressed concern over the attacks on US consulates and the UN office, calling them violations of international law.
In Karachi, a heavy police presence was deployed in the Red Zone and diplomatic enclave after protesters stormed the US Consulate, clashed with security forces and set fires outside the compound. Roads leading to key government and diplomatic sites were sealed, and in some areas police used tear gas to disperse crowds.
Sharif’s planned visit to Russia from March 3 to 5 has been postponed due to the current regional situation, with new dates to be announced later. Russia also urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to halt cross-border attacks and address tensions through dialogue. The postponement comes amid wider regional instability, including unrest in Pakistan following Khamenei’s killing.
