Violent Protests Erupt Near US Consulate in Karachi After Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

Karachi, March 2026 : Protests near the US Consulate Karachi turned violent on Sunday after reports confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in coordinated US–Israeli airstrikes, according to local media. The unrest unfolded along Mai Kolachi Road, a key thoroughfare in Pakistan’s largest city, triggering clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Videos circulating widely on social media showed chaotic scenes outside the consulate premises, with protesters smashing doors and windows, setting parts of the property on fire, and hurling sticks and other objects at the guard area. Security personnel were seen attempting to hold back the crowd as tensions escalated rapidly.

Law enforcement agencies responded with tear gas shelling and fired warning shots into the air in an effort to disperse the protesters and prevent further damage. Despite these measures, the situation remained volatile for several hours, with demonstrators continuing to gather and confront police.

According to a statement issued by Edhi Foundation, police used tear gas and baton charges to control the crowd, resulting in injuries to several individuals. An Edhi ambulance transported the injured to Civil Hospital Karachi for medical treatment. While authorities did not immediately provide an official count of those hurt, eyewitness accounts suggested that both protesters and security personnel were among the injured.

The deteriorating law-and-order situation prompted swift action from the provincial government. Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Sindh’s Home Minister, sought an immediate report from Azad Khan, the Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) for Karachi, directing law enforcement to restore calm and ensure the safety of diplomatic facilities.

The protests also caused major traffic disruptions across the area. In an update issued around 11 a.m., Karachi Traffic Police announced that both sides of the road from Sultanabad Traffic Section towards Mai Kolachi Road had been closed due to the unrest. Commuters were advised to use alternative routes as congestion spread to adjoining neighbourhoods.

Authorities said the situation was being closely monitored as security remained on high alert across the city. The violence in Karachi underscores the regional fallout of Khamenei’s killing, described by analysts as an epochal moment marking an inflexion point in Iran’s 46-year Shia-theocratic rule. Tehran’s retaliation following the US–Israeli strikes has already sparked unrest and security concerns across several parts of the Middle East and beyond, with Karachi becoming the latest flashpoint linked to the rapidly unfolding crisis.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)