More than 20 Shia protestors killed in Pakistan as they expressed anger over killing of Khamenei by US and Israel

VSK Telangana    02-Mar-2026
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Shia protestors killed
 

Large-scale protests swept through multiple Pakistani cities on March 1, turning violent in several locations as demonstrators, who were mostly Shias condemned the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran. The reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sparked fury among thousands of Shia protesters, particularly in Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan, where confrontations with police proved deadly.

In Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and capital of Sindh province, thousands pf Shias gathered near the US Consulate to denounce Washington and Tel Aviv. Senior police official Irfan Baloch confirmed that protesters briefly breached the outer perimeter area and smashed windows of the consulate building before security forces dispersed the crowd. He dismissed reports that the consulate itself had been set ablaze but acknowledged that a nearby police post was torched during the unrest.

Hospital authorities in Karachi initially confirmed six fatalities, but the death toll climbed as critically injured individuals succumbed to their wounds. Summaiya Syed Tariq, a police surgeon at the city’s main government hospital, said multiple injured protesters were brought in with gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma. By late evening, officials indicated that at least 10 people had died in Karachi alone, with dozens more injured.

Shias take to Streets in Gilgit-Baltistan

The unrest was not confined to the port city. In Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, thousands of protesters reportedly attacked the offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group and the UN Development Programme. Local police official Asghar Ali said that at least 12 Shia protesters were killed and more than 80 wounded in clashes with security personnel. Demonstrators also damaged government buildings and set fire to police offices before troops were deployed to restore order.

According to reports in the media, enraged Shia Muslim protesters attacked and set fire to multiple offices all over PoGB, while demonstrating against the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Sayyed Ali Khamenei.

Shia Muslim protesters also set fire to many buildings associated with Pakistan Army & Pakistan state to express their anger with Pakistan Army Chief – Asim Munir & Pakistani illegally appointed Prime Minister – Shehbaz Shariff’s very close association with American President – Donald Trump, whom the Shia Muslims of Skardu, Gilgit and other parts of PoGB hold responsible for assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader – Ayatollah Khamenei.

Some of the buildings attacked and torched by the enraged Shia Muslim protesters in Skardu, Gilgit and other parts of PoGB are:

1. Residence of Brigade Commander of Pakistan Army, Skardu;

2. Offices, mess and residential units of military personnel of Pakistan Army & Northern Light Infantry (NLI) in Skardu;

3. Army Public School, Skardu;

4. Office of Superintendent of Police (SP) & Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Skardu;

5. Software Technology Park, Skardu;

6. Green Tourism Office, Skardu;

7. Special Communication Organization (SCO), Skardu. SCO is Pakistan’s telecom operator in PoGB.

Such was the ferocity of anger of the Shia community of PoGB that they even torched the office building of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in Skardu, which Shia protesters believed is funded by the Pakistan government.

Protesting Balit Shias were chanting slogans like “Pakistani Fauj – Isreali Fauj” (Pakistan Army is Isreali Army); “Lanat Amrika ke naukaron par” (curse upon servants of U.S.A.); “Pakistan Fauj – Beghairat Fauj” ( Pakistan Army is a shameless Army); “Lanat Hukumat e Pakistan” (curse upon government of Pakistan). There is widespread anger amongst Shias of PoGB over Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Shariff’s joining of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”, a controversial U.S. led “peace keeping” initiative by U.S. President Trump in Gaza, which mandates Pakistan to station its armed forces in Gaza.

A regional government spokesperson, Shabir Mir, stated that all UN staff members were safe despite the attacks. He said authorities had successfully brought the situation under control after deploying additional security forces. However, tensions remained high, with sporadic clashes reported throughout the day.

In the federal capital Islamabad, police used tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of protesters attempting to march toward the US Embassy in the heavily guarded Diplomatic Enclave. Similar scenes unfolded in Peshawar, where thousands of Shias tried to approach the US Consulate. Authorities intervened to prevent the gatherings from escalating into direct assaults on diplomatic facilities.

In Lahore, protesters also clashed with police near the US Consulate, while in Multan, rallies remained largely peaceful, with demonstrators chanting slogans against the United States and Israel.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Pakistan issued a security advisory stating it was monitoring demonstrations in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. American citizens were urged to avoid large gatherings, stay alert, and ensure their travel registrations were up to date.

Authorities across Pakistan heightened security around diplomatic missions, government buildings, and sensitive installations. Police presence was visibly increased in major urban centres, with checkpoints and patrols intensified.

Pakistan’s Shia community, estimated to comprise roughly 15 per cent of the country’s 250 million population, has historically organised anti-US and anti-Israel rallies, particularly during periods of heightened tension in West Asia. However, officials noted that clashes of this scale, involving coordinated attempts to storm diplomatic missions and attacks on international organisations, are relatively rare.

The violence underscores the broader regional fallout from escalating hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Analysts warn that Pakistan’s internal stability could be strained further if tensions persist, especially given its proximity to Iran and its own complex sectarian dynamics.

  (Courtesy: Organiser)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei West Asia Crisis Shia Protestors Killed Pakistan