At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured on Sunday as protests swept across Pakistan following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in coordinated US-Israeli air strikes on Tehran. The most violent clashes erupted near the US Consulate in Karachi and around Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave, prompting sweeping security crackdowns, bans on public gatherings, and the formation of investigation teams. Why the protests erupted The demonstrations were primarily organised by Pakistan’s Shia Muslim community, with groups such as Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) calling for nationwide rallies in solidarity with Iran. Protesters viewed Khamenei’s assassination as a direct attack on Muslim sovereignty and a dangerous escalation in the Middle East. Deadly clashes in Karachi In Karachi, nine people died and 34 were injured after protesters clashed with law enforcement near the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road. According to Dr Mohammad Sabir Memon of Civil Hospital Karachi, all casualties, both deceased and injured, suffered gunshot wounds. Police used tear gas and baton charges after demonstrators breached security cordons. Emotional scenes unfolded outside hospital mortuaries as families gathered to identify victims, while roads surrounding the consulate were sealed. Attempts to block roads with containers triggered further stone-pelting and confrontations. As Pakistan grapples with […]