Protests erupted in Pakistan following the confirmation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing in air strikes on Tehran by the US and Israel. 20 people were killed and dozens wounded nationwide, with the majority of deaths in Karachi. The Shia Muslim community led the demonstrations, chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. Despite being a predominantly Sunni country, Pakistan has a significant Shia population. Protesters in Islamabad gathered near the Red Zone, denouncing the government’s response and expressing solidarity with Iran. The government has condemned the attacks on Iran and criticised Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf nations. The protests turned violent, with security forces firing tear gas and rubber bullets, resulting in injuries. In Karachi, protesters clashed with law enforcement at US diplomatic facilities, resulting in 10 deaths and 60 injuries. The US Embassy advised citizens to avoid large crowds as tensions remained high. The violence was reminiscent of a 1979 attack on the US Embassy in Islamabad following false claims about US involvement in an incident in Mecca.
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