Karachi [Pakistan], March 1 (ANI): At least nine people died Sunday after clashes between protesters and Pakistani law enforcement personnel near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Dawn reported, citing the executive director of Civil Hospital Karachi’s trauma center.
Dr. Mohammad Sabir Memon of Civil Hospital Karachi told Dawn that nine men had died and 32 others were injured in the protests near the consulate.
According to Dawn, a statement by the Edhi Foundation said law enforcement personnel resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charges to control the situation.
Earlier, police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed told Dawn that six bodies were brought to Civil Hospital Karachi and said two injured police officers were among those taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment.
The two officers were injured by hard and blunt instruments, while two protesters with firearm injuries were also brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, the surgeon told Dawn.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar sought immediate details about the situation from Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police Azad Khan, according to a statement from his office cited by Dawn.
The minister directed that alternative routes be determined to maintain traffic flow and that law enforcement agencies remain fully alert and closely monitor the situation.
Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police Amjad Ahmed Shaikh gathered police contingents to strengthen security at sensitive locations, Dawn reported.
In an update issued around 11 a.m. local time, Karachi Traffic Police said both sides of the road from Sultanabad Traffic Section toward Mai Kolachi were closed due to the protest.
The protests come in the wake of Israeli-U.S. strikes that resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes, labeled by the Israel Defense Forces as Operation Roaring Lion, followed months of close joint planning with the U.S. Armed Forces, IDF Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said in a video message Sunday.
“Our mission could not be more clear. The IDF will continue to act to remove emerging threats against Israel because the price of inaction is too high,” he said.
Iran is observing 40 days of public mourning following Khamenei’s death, Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media. The Supreme Leader’s office has declared a period of national mourning, with flags flying at half-staff and public gatherings planned to pay respects, marking the end of a 37-year chapter in the Islamic Republic’s history.
Khamenei succeeded the founder of the revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989 and led Iran for more than three decades. (ANI)
About The Author
