Nine Dead in Karachi Clashes as Nationwide Protests Erupt Over Iran Strikes

By Zeeshan Naseem, Bilal Haider :

At least nine people have died in clashes near the United States Consulate in Karachi, hospital officials say, as protests spread across Pakistan following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Demonstrations erupted after reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in coordinated airstrikes on Tehran on Saturday. The developments have triggered anger in several cities, prompting appeals for calm from authorities.

Fatalities Confirmed in Karachi

Violence broke out on Mai Kolachi Road as protesters gathered near the US Consulate. According to officials at Civil Hospital Karachi, nine people were killed and 34 others injured.

Dr Mohammad Sabir Memon, executive director of the hospital’s trauma centre, said the death toll was revised from an earlier figure of 10 after it emerged one victim had been counted twice. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed that the deceased and injured had sustained gunshot wounds.

Some of the injured were transferred to Aga Khan University Hospital and the Fatimid Foundation, while others remained under treatment at the trauma centre.

Police said officers used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds after protesters breached security barriers. Two policemen were among those injured, officials said.

Roads around the consulate were sealed off, and further clashes were reported when authorities attempted to place shipping containers to block access routes.

In a statement, the US Embassy Islamabad said it was monitoring demonstrations at US diplomatic missions in Karachi and Lahore, advising American citizens to avoid large gatherings and review security precautions.

Government Orders Investigation

The Sindh government described the incident as “extremely tragic” and announced the formation of a high-level joint investigation team to examine the circumstances surrounding the violence.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed grief over the loss of life and called for an impartial inquiry. He also appealed to religious leaders to help maintain calm.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged demonstrators not to take the law into their own hands. “You may protest, but peacefully,” he said in a video statement, adding that security arrangements had been strengthened nationwide.

Sindh Rangers said additional personnel had been deployed across Karachi in response to the unrest.

Clashes in Islamabad

In the capital, Islamabad, confrontations were reported near the Diplomatic Enclave, where gatherings had been banned under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Hospital sources said one person died of injuries sustained during clashes, while dozens were treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic Hospital. Several police officers and Rangers personnel were among the injured.

Law enforcement officers used tear gas to prevent protesters from entering the Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and foreign missions. Authorities later confirmed that all routes leading to the area had been closed.

Restrictions Across Punjab and Protests Elsewhere

In Lahore, demonstrators gathered outside the US Consulate, with police dispersing crowds after some protesters attempted to approach the building. The Punjab government imposed a seven-day ban on public gatherings of four or more people across the province, citing security concerns.

The provincial Home Department said intelligence alerts had warned of potential attempts to exploit rallies to incite unrest.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, a curfew was imposed in Skardu after protesters set fire to offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. Police said the Pakistan Army had been called in to assist civil authorities, adding that no casualties were reported there.

Demonstrations were also held in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, where officials said rallies concluded peacefully under tight security.

Appeal for Calm

Authorities across the country have reiterated that peaceful protest is a constitutional right but warned that violence and vandalism would not be tolerated.

With tensions high and security tightened around diplomatic missions and sensitive sites, officials say they are working to prevent further escalation.

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