Deadly Protests erupt across Pakistan after strike on Iran’s leader

WEB DESK: Widespread protests swept across Pakistan on Sunday, leaving at least 20 people dead and dozens injured, following the confirmed killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli air strikes on Tehran.

According to Al Jazeera, the demonstrations, predominantly organised by members of the country’s sizeable Shia Muslim community, turned violent in several cities as anger over the strikes boiled over into confrontations with security forces. Authorities reported 10 deaths in Karachi, where protesters attempted to storm the US consulate, at least eight in Skardu in the north, and two in the capital, Islamabad.

Thousands rally in Islamabad’s Red Zone amid rising anger

Pakistan, home to more than 250 million people and predominantly Sunni Muslim, has a Shia population exceeding 20 per cent, with communities spread nationwide. Many Shias view Iran’s supreme leader as a key religious figure, and the strikes have ignited deep outrage.

In Islamabad, thousands including women and children gathered near the heavily fortified Red Zone, which houses parliament, government offices, and foreign embassies. Protesters waved placards bearing Khamenei’s image and chanted slogans such as “Those who side with the US are traitors” and calls for revenge against Israel.

Syed Nayab Zehra, a 28-year-old participant who attended with her family, told Al Jazeera: “We want to show the world that, don’t take us Shia lightly. We are here to remind the world that we will seek revenge. We cannot expect or hope anything from our own government, but we will stand up for our community.”

Security forces responded with tear gas and rubber bullets in multiple locations to disperse crowds, though reports suggest live ammunition was used in some instances, particularly in Karachi amid attempts to breach the US consulate perimeter. The Pakistani government has condemned the US-Israeli operation on Iran, while also criticising Tehran’s retaliatory actions that have escalated regional tensions. However, the protests highlight deep domestic divisions, with many demonstrators accusing Islamabad of insufficient solidarity with Iran.

The killing of Khamenei, who ruled Iran for decades with staunch opposition to the US and Israel, has sent shockwaves across the Muslim world. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning, and retaliatory strikes continue amid warnings of broader conflict.

In Pakistan, the violence underscores the risks of spillover from the escalating Israel-Iran crisis, with fears that further unrest could strain an already fragile security environment. Authorities have urged calm, but tensions remain high as communities process the loss of a figure many revered.