Violent protests erupted in Pakistan after the reported killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US–Israel aerial strike. The unrest led to 35 deaths and over 100 injuries, with no arrests made so far. Angry mobs targeted various buildings, including American Consulates in Karachi and Lahore, United Nations offices, and local NGOs like the Agha Khan Rural Support Program.
The media in Pakistan, both electronic and print, hailed Khamenei as a ‘great martyr,’ while social media saw calls for violence and extreme actions against Israel and its leaders. A US Consulate employee described the attack on the consulate in Karachi as one of the most alarming incidents since the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Protests, involving groups like Pakistan’s Shia Student body, Imamia Students Organisation, saw demonstrators storming the US Consulate in Karachi, causing damage and setting parts of the compound on fire. Despite security presence, the breach raised questions about the response. Rioting also spread to Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, resulting in attacks on UN offices and the Agha Khan Rural Support Program, leading to around 25 deaths.
