At least nine people were killed and 24 others injured after violence escalated during clashes between police and demonstrators protesting against US and Israeli strikes that martyred Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei outside the US Consulate in Karachi on Sunday, hospital officials confirmed.
According to Edhi ambulance service, six bodies and 10 injured persons were initially shifted from MT Khan Road to the Civil Hospital Karachi. Officials at the hospital’s trauma centre later confirmed that seven bodies had been brought to the facility along with 18 injured individuals.
Hospital authorities said that those affected sustained injuries due to firing, baton charge, and stampede during the unrest.
According to the head of the Trauma Centre at Civil Hospital Karachi, Dr Sabir Memon, eight bodies have so far been brought to the hospital, while 20 injured individuals are receiving medical treatment
Later, one injured person succumbed to his injuries.
The protesters had gathered outside the US Consulate and attempted to move towards the premises, pelting stones, after which police resorted to shelling and force to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, traffic movement in the area was severely affected due to the protest. Authorities closed the road from Sultanabad leading towards Mai Kolachi, causing significant traffic congestion.
According to Karachi traffic police, vehicles coming from Jinnah Bridge are being diverted towards II Chundrigar Road, traffic from Boat Basin is being given a U-turn at Mai Kolachi Phatak, and vehicles from PIDC are being sent back.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has sought details of the incident from the Additional IG Karachi. In a statement, the home minister said that no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
Lanjar directed to strengthen security at sensitive installations across the province.
Separately in Islamabad, all roads leading to the red zone, which houses diplomatic missions and parliament, were blocked for traffic or any other public movement, police said.
In Lahore, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the US consulate, but there were no reports of violence.
“Some of the protestors tried to damage the security gate, hundreds of yards away for the Consulate, however, police stopped them without use of force,” Aqeel Raza, an eyewitness, told Reuters.
Meanwhile, pro-Iranian protesters also gathered outside the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, where the US Embassy is located.
