Nine killed in at US consulate in Karachi as pro-Iran protests erupt across Pakistan

Protesters enter US Consulate building: Police start tear gas shelling: Traffic suspended from Sultanabad to Mai Kolachi due to unrest; sources say reports on social media of firing at consulate are fake

Published: 11:58 AM, 1 Mar, 2026
Featured News, Pakistan
Nine killed in at US consulate in Karachi as pro-Iran protests erupt across Pakistan
Caption: Protesters enter in US Consulate in Karachi

At least nine people were killed during pro-Iran protests at the United States consulate in the Pakistan megacity of Karachi on Sunday, after protesters clashed with law enforcement personnel near the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road, as protests erupted countrywide against the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

The protests follow the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Saturday’s coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran.

The situation warranted Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to issue an appeal, urging people to remain peaceful.

“Today is a sorrowful day for the entire Muslim ummah, Pakistan’s public and Iran’s public,” he said in a video statement.

Stating that every Pakistani citizen was as aggrieved as Iranians, Naqvi said, “My only request is that we all stand with you, but please do not take the law into your hands. You may protest but peacefully.”

Karachi protest

"We have moved at least nine dead bodies to Karachi's civil hospitals, while 20 others were injured in the consulate incident," said Muhammad Amin, a spokesman for the Edhi Foundation rescue service, adding most had bullet wounds.

Hundreds of pro-Iranian protesters tried to storm the consulate following the US-Israel strikes on Iran, an AFP journalist saw.

A crowd of young people climbed over the main gate and gained access to the driveway of the consular building, smashing some windows.

Police fired tear gas at the protesters who dispersed, the AFP journalist saw.

Videos on social media showed youngsters smashing the windows of the main building of the consulate as the American flag could be seen flying over the compound, whose perimeter is topped with barbed wire.

"We need to remain united. No power can stop us," a young protester could be heard saying.

"We are setting the American consulate in Karachi on fire. God willing, we are avenging the killing of our leader," another protester said as he filmed others trying to start a blaze.

Earlier today, the 24NewsHD TV channel's reporter Usama Malik reported that tensions escalated in Karachi on Sunday morning as violent protests erupted against recent US-Israel strikes targeting Iran, culminating in a dramatic breach attempt at the US Consulate.

Large crowds of demonstrators gathered around the diplomatic mission, and some forced open the gates in an effort to enter the compound.

City authorities confirmed that police had begun using tear gas and other crowd-control measures in an attempt to disperse the protesters.

Law enforcement officers, alongside the Rangers, engaged the demonstrators to prevent further intrusion into the embassy premises.

The unrest caused significant disruption across the city, with key routes, including the road from Sultanabad to Mai Kolachi, closed to traffic.

Police redirected vehicles from Jinnah Bridge toward I I Chundrigar Road to ease congestion and maintain order.

The demonstration underscores the intensity of public anger in Karachi following international military actions, highlighting the challenge authorities face in balancing security with citizens’ right to protest.

In its statement, the US Embassy in Islamabad said: “We are monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for additional demonstrations at US Embassy Islamabad and Consulate General Peshawar.

“We advise US citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news and observe good personal security practices, including being aware of your surroundings, avoiding large crowds, and ensuring your STEP (Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme) registration is up to date.”

Sindh govt forms JIT

In an official statement, shared by the information minister’s spokesperson Husain Mansoor, the Sindh government expressed “deep grief” over the loss of lives in the clash.

“The protesters entered after breaching the security cordon of the US Consulate and committed vandalism,” the statement said.

However, the government put the number of deaths at six, adding that “several” were injured.

It formed a high-level joint investigation team (JIT) to “impartially review all aspects of the incident”. The JIT will “assess the circumstances under which the incident occurred and what its causes were”.

The JIT will also determine “who was responsible” for the incident.

While the government affirmed the public’s constitutional right to protest, it stressed that “maintaining a peaceful environment was everyone’s shared responsibility”.

“Any kind of vandalism, violence or taking the law into your own hands is inappropriate,” it noted.

The government requested citizens to “express their emotions only in peaceful and legal ways”.

Citizens are urged to express their feelings only in peaceful and legal ways.

“The government wants to keep the situation under control,” the statement said, adding that while citizens had the right to peacefully protest, no one should take the law into their hands.

Sindh CM orders ‘impartial probe’

In his statement, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah termed the incident “extremely tragic” and expressed his deep grief over Khamenei’s death.

“In this hour of grief, the people of Sindh stand in equal solidarity with Iran and all those who are mourning,” he said.

He directed that an impartial investigation be conducted into the US Consulate incident.

“At a time when the country is facing a war-like situation, it is inappropriate to sabotage peace and order,” CM Murad said.

He contacted various religious leaders, including Allama Shahenshah Naqvi, Allama Shabbir Maisami, and others, to urge them to ensure that public sentiments were controlled at all costs.

Allama Naqvi and others spoke about holding a majlis (gathering) at Numaish, the CM Office statement said, adding that Murad directed the administration and the police to provide full security for it.

CM Murad appealed to all religious scholars and people of different schools of thought to guide the public toward maintaining peace and order.

Expressing his deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the US Consulate incident, he said the government cannot allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.

In a video statement, Allama Naqvi termed the consulate clashes “painful” and urged the public to remain peaceful.

He noted that the Muslim community was saddened over Khamenei’s “martyrdom”, adding that people should voice their grief “keeping in mind the sorrow of Karbala”.

Clashes in Islamabad

Multiple casualties occurred as protesters clashed with law enforcement personnel near the Diplomatic Enclave, where people had gathered to protest the attacks on Iran.

The clashes came after the district administration had banned all kinds of gatherings under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Eight injured protesters were brought to PIMS while nine injured were shifted to Polytechnic hospital where they are being treated for their injuries.

Police resorted to heavy shelling near the Foreign Office building in an effort to stop the protesters from entering the Diplomatic Enclave. The police, backed by Rangers, succeeded in pushing the protesters back and out of the Red Zone.

In the late afternoon, thousands of people reached Aabpara Chowk to march towards the US Embassy for protests over Supreme Leader Khamenei’s assassination.

However, the march was stopped by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) at Serena Chowk, where shelling was employed, resulting in multiple injuries.

The protesters burnt a police checkpoint at Serena Chowk. 

Protesters also manhandled mediapersons, including cameramen and photographers, snatching their cameras and phones and deleting the pictures and videos.

However, in the evening, the police successfully dispersed all the protesters and resumed the traffic. 

Earlier in the day, interior minister Naqvi also visited various areas of Islamabad and reviewed the law and order situation in the Red Zone, Diplomatic Enclave, and other areas.

He inspected security arrangements and issued orders to ensure foolproof arrangements in the Diplomatic Enclave.

While noting that peaceful protest was everyone’s right, Naqvi said, “Mischief under the guise of protest cannot be allowed under any circumstances.”

He ordered that security arrangements must be complete and comprehensive in every respect, adding, “The law will take its course against disruption of daily life routines.”

Protest in Lahore

Hundreds of activists from Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) assembled outside the US Consulate in Lahore at around 11am and attempted to force their way into the building, catching the police off guard.

However, a few policemen on routine duty around the consulate managed to push back the activists protesting the US-Israel attacks on Iran.

The protesters, including a large number of women, were carrying portraits of Khamenei and raising slogans against the US and Israel.

Police cordoned off the area as activists of Tehreek-i-Bedari Ummat-i-Mustafa marched from the Punjab Assembly to join the demonstration at the consulate.

Curfew in Skardu

Separately, as demonstrations intensified across Gilgit-Baltistan after Khamenei’s assassination, curfew was imposed in the Skardu district.

Protesters set the offices in Gilgit and Skardu of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) on fire.

They also set a school, the office of the superintendent of police, and the Agha Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) office on fire during the protest.

The GB police issued a statement saying that a curfew has been imposed in Skardu.

The statement said that the Pakistan Army had been called in under Section 245 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), noting that UNMOGIP offices in Skardu and Gilgit were torched.

It said that no casualties were reported due to “timely intervention” by the police and administration.

According to the police, all foreign tourists in GB have been shifted to safe places.

Police requested the public to remain peaceful, saying, “It is everyone’s shared responsibility to thwart attempts to damage national property.”

Protesters blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) at multiple locations in Hunza, Nagar and Gilgit, holding pictures of Khamenei and chanting anti-American and anti-Israel slogans. They also staged a sit-in at Siachen Road in Kharmang.

Roads in Shigar and Ghanche also remained blocked, while the Baltistan Road has been blocked in Roundu and other areas. Inter-district roads also remained blocked.

Rallies in KP

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rallies in solidarity with Iran were staged in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Paharpur districts.

Hundreds of people staged a rally in DI Khan from Imamia Gate to Fawara Chowk, where participants held a gathering and offered prayers.

The rally, led by Allama Ramzan Tauqeer, was organised on the call of the Shia Ulema Council and other organisations.

Leaders and workers of various political and social groups joined the demonstration.

Among those present were Jamaat-i-Islami district president Manzar Masood Khattak, Advocate Zahid Mohibullah and Mian Allah Ditta Sajid of the Khaksar Tehreek, along with individuals belonging to different schools of thought.

Participants carried portraits of Ayatollah Khamenei and placards bearing protest slogans, while chants were raised against the US and Israel.

Speakers termed the death of Iran’s supreme leader a grave loss for the Muslim world and warned that such developments could escalate tensions in the region. They urged the international community to play its role in ensuring peace and stability.

Addressing the gathering, Allama Tauqeer said the Iranian people were not alone in what he described as a difficult time and that the people of Pakistan stood with them.

JI’s Khattak said any violation of a country’s sovereignty was against international law and could have serious consequences. Other speakers also emphasised the need for restraint, dialogue and regional peace.

According to the administration, the rally concluded peacefully and no untoward incident was reported.

Similar protest rallies were also held in Tank, Paharpur and other adjoining areas. Local authorities said the demonstrations remained peaceful, with no reports of violence or disruption from any of the locations.

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