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At least 22 people were killed and more than 120 others injured across Pakistan on Sunday as violent protests erupted following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, authorities said.

The unrest spread across several major cities, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and parts of the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, as thousands of demonstrators gathered to condemn the attacks on Iran.

Protesters attempted to storm diplomatic compounds, clashed with security forces, and attacked government and international facilities. The violence marked one of the most serious waves of anti-U.S. unrest in Pakistan in recent years.

Authorities in Pakistan remain on high alert as protests continue and security forces attempt to prevent further violence near diplomatic installations nationwide.

Karachi Consulate Attack

The most intense clashes occurred in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub, where hundreds of pro-Iran demonstrators marched toward the U.S. Consulate.

Senior police official Irfan Baloch said protesters briefly breached the outer perimeter of the diplomatic compound before being pushed back by security forces.

Demonstrators smashed consulate windows, torched a nearby police post, and attempted to set parts of the facility on fire before authorities regained control.

Police and hospital officials confirmed that at least 10 people were killed in Karachi, while dozens sustained injuries, several of them critical. Medical authorities said many victims suffered gunshot wounds during confrontations between protesters and security personnel.

Witnesses reported that crowds chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans gathered near the consulate for hours, throwing stones and attempting to advance toward heavily guarded entrances where police and paramilitary Rangers had been deployed.

A video circulating on social media showed a protester shouting, “The death of the leader has been avenged,” as chaos unfolded near the compound.

Deadly Clashes in Northern Pakistan

Violence also spread to the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, where thousands of Shiite protesters attacked offices belonging to the U.N. Military Observer Group and the U.N. Development Program.

Local police official Asghar Ali said at least 12 people were killed and more than 80 were injured during clashes with law enforcement. Protesters damaged public property, burned police installations, and vandalized a local charity office.

Government spokesman Shabir Mir confirmed that all United Nations staff members were safe despite the attacks. Authorities later deployed additional troops to restore order, bringing the situation under control after hours of confrontation.

🇵🇰 In Skardu, Pakistan, pro-Iranian protesters set fire to a UN office in protest against U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran and the death of Ayatollah Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/1l9EQra7Gq

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 1, 2026

Protests Spread Nationwide

In Islamabad, police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse demonstrators attempting to march toward the U.S. Embassy inside the heavily secured Diplomatic Enclave. At least two deaths were reported in the capital during clashes.

Similar confrontations took place near the U.S. Consulates in Lahore and Peshawar, where thousands gathered to denounce Khamenei’s killing. Security forces again used tear gas to prevent crowds from reaching diplomatic compounds.

Not all demonstrations turned violent. In Multan, protesters held a peaceful rally chanting slogans against the United States and Israel.

One participant, Mamoona Sherazi, described Khamenei as a fatherly figure and defender of Muslim communities. “God willing, we will never bow before America and Israel,” she said.

Government Appeals for Calm

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged citizens to remain peaceful amid rising tensions. He appealed to protesters not to take the law into their own hands.

“Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, every citizen of Pakistan shares in the grief of the people of Iran,” he said, calling the moment “a day of mourning for the Muslim Ummah.”

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences to Iran, stating that Pakistan stood with the Iranian nation “in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.”

The Sindh provincial government warned citizens against violence and ordered heightened security measures across sensitive locations.

Security Tightened Around US Missions

The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan said it was monitoring demonstrations at diplomatic facilities in Karachi and Lahore and warned of additional planned protests in Islamabad and Peshawar.

American citizens were advised to avoid large gatherings, monitor local developments, and maintain updated travel registrations. Authorities across Pakistan increased protection around U.S. diplomatic missions to prevent further escalation.

Shiites make up roughly 15 percent of Pakistan’s population of about 250 million people and have historically organized demonstrations against U.S. and Israeli policies, though clashes on this scale remain uncommon.

Regional Fallout Intensifies

The killing of Khamenei has triggered unrest across parts of the Middle East and beyond. In Iraq, security forces fired tear gas at crowds attempting to approach the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone, while large mourning gatherings were reported in Lebanon and Yemen.

Iran-aligned groups, including Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, Hamas, and the Houthis, issued statements praising Khamenei as a martyr and symbol of resistance against the United States and Israel.

Under Khamenei’s leadership, Iran built and supported what it described as an “axis of resistance,” a network of allied armed groups across the Middle East.

While mass mourning ceremonies took place in several Shiite-majority areas, celebrations were reported among some Iranian exile communities and in parts of Syria, reflecting deep regional polarization following the Iranian leader’s death.

Khamenei played a central role in shaping Tehran’s regional security doctrine and confrontation with Western powers. His killing has sent shockwaves across the Islamic world and raised fears of broader instability, with Pakistan and Iraq, home to some of the world’s largest Shiite populations outside Iran, emerging as early flashpoints of public anger.