Several killed in violent protests outside US Consulate in Karachi following Khamenei’s death

Karachi, Pakistan — Violent clashes erupted outside the United States Consulate in Karachi on Sunday after news broke that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes — leaving several people dead and dozens wounded.
Protesters took to the streets in large numbers, marching toward the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road. As demonstrators attempted to breach the consulate perimeter, clashes broke out with security forces. Civil Hospital Karachi confirmed receiving multiple dead bodies and injured persons, with medical staff stating all casualties had sustained gunshot wounds. It remains unclear who opened fire, with no independent verification immediately available.
The Sindh government swiftly condemned the bloodshed, announcing the formation of a high-level Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to determine the sequence of events and establish responsibility. The US Embassy in Islamabad confirmed it was monitoring the situation at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore, warning American citizens to avoid large crowds and stay vigilant.
The unrest in Karachi came as protests spread to multiple Pakistani cities following the killing of Khamenei on February 28, 2026, in a US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran. Authorities in Islamabad imposed Section 144, banning all public gatherings in the capital, while security forces were placed on high alert nationwide.
The Pakistani government has called for calm, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urging citizens to express their grief only through peaceful and lawful means.