Pro-Iran Protests Shake Pakistan, Asim Munir Caught Between Iran Support, US Ties

Islamabad: About 20 people have died and dozens have been injured after protests erupted in Pakistan on Sunday after the United States and Israel confirmed that Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in coordinated air strikes on Tehran.

Why is the crowd angry?

After the news of Khamenei's death came out, protests started in many cities of Pakistan. Protestors in Karachi reacted sharply, calling it the result of actions by the US and its allies. Some religious and political groups termed it an “attack on Muslim leadership”, following which a large number of people took to the streets. The initial protest was peaceful, but soon the crowd became violent.

People also came out on the streets in Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad. Shia organizations called for three days of national mourning. Special prayers were offered in mosques and demands were raised to give martyr status to Khamenei. This US-Israeli attack was also strongly condemned by the Pakistan government.

How many people died?

As the protest escalated, about 10 deaths were reported in Karanchi, eight in Shardu and two were recorded in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Pakistan Police and Rangers reached the spot. Tear gas shells were fired, batons were also used, but the anger of the crowd was not easily quelled. 

According to Karachi Police Officer Mohammad Jawad said that many protester  were injured and were taken to the hospital by ambulances of Edhi Foundation. After a lot of effort the situation came under control.

Protesters also gathered outside the US Embassy in Baghdad amid a surge in regional tensions, sparked by anger over recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran, alongside the assassination of Iran's Supreme leader Khamenei.

What did Pakistan PM say?

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid condolences to Iran following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but did not openly call out the US or condemn the strikes carried out against Iran.

Pakistan is in unique and difficult situation, as the country has ties with both the US and Iran, which it even shares a boundary with, and has a defence pact with Saudi

A military confrontation erupted after coordinated US-Israeli strikes hit Iranian territory, which draw strong retaliation from Iran with missile and drone attacks across the region.

This balancing act has sparked sharp questions as public opinion diverges from the stance taken by Field Marshal Asim Munir and the Shehbaz Sharif government.