Protesters stage demonstrations against the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader near the US consulate in Peshawar.
A protest rally held in front of the Peshawar Press Club on March 1, organized by Majlis-e-Islamiya Pakistan, following the assassination of Khamenei. PHOTO: EXPRESS
GILGIT/PESHAWAR:
In response to the deteriorating law and order situation in Skardu, Pakistan Army has been deployed in Skardu under Article 245 of the Constitution.
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Police, the deployment is aimed at providing military support to civil authorities to restore order and ensure the protection of public and private property.
Violent protests broke out in Skardu on Sunday when angry protesters allegedly set fire to several public and private buildings during a demonstration against the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to police, the protest initially began as a demonstration, but soon turned violent and mobs attacked and burned several offices across the city. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from different locations, as panic spread among residents and business owners.
In Skardu, among the buildings allegedly burned was the United Nations regional sub-office. In addition, the Army Public School, the Superintendent of Police’s office, the Software Technology Park and the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) building were also attacked during the riots. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.
In Gilgit, protesters set fire to the UN Military Observer Group and UNDP sub-offices.
Security forces have been seen patrolling key areas of the city, while efforts are underway to disperse remaining protesters and secure sensitive facilities. Authorities have not yet confirmed reports of casualties.
The situation remains tense and residents have been advised to stay indoors as officials work to control the unrest.
Read: More attacks target Iran after US-Israeli strike kills Supreme Leader Khamenei
Like other major cities in Pakistan, protesters also held demonstrations against the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei near the US consulate in Peshawar, despite police efforts to keep them away from the mission.
A protest rally was held in front of the Peshawar Press Club, organized by Majlis-e-Islamiya Pakistan. A large number of protesters, including women and children, participated in the demonstration, carrying signs and banners in support of Iran and chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.
A protest rally held in front of the Peshawar Press Club on March 1, organized by Majlis-e-Islamiya Pakistan, following the assassination of Khamenei. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Speakers at the rally described Khamenei’s martyrdom as a continuation of Karbala and vowed to continue resistance against oppression. The protesters also criticized the role of certain Muslim countries and demanded that the Government of Pakistan formally condemn the incident.
In the northern town of Skardu, located in the Shiite-majority region of Gilgit-Baltistan, known for its Himalayan peaks popular with tourists, large numbers of protesters gathered outside the UN office and burned the building, according to Reuters.
However, local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir said Reuters that no victims had been reported.
Protests also continue in Karachi, where at least 10 people were killed and several more injured after clashes broke out between police and protesters on MT Khan Road. The clashes occurred as crowds marched towards the US consulate in protest of Khamenei’s assassination.
Protests have also been reported in Islamabad and Lahore. In the federal capital, Tehreek-e-Jafaria Pakistan announced a protest and a planned siege of the US embassy. Authorities responded by sealing off the Red Zone and deploying additional personnel to all roads leading to it.
Read more: Explosions heard in Dubai and Doha for the second day, and the port of Duqm was also attacked
Security checks have also been intensified and all vehicles and motorcycles have been thoroughly inspected. Armored vehicles and additional forces have also been deployed, while Islamabad police have urged citizens not to travel towards the Red Zone.
Furthermore, the Islamabad district administration has imposed Section 144, according to which all types of gatherings will be considered illegal.
The administration has urged citizens not to participate in any gathering or assembly, warning of strict legal action in case of any protest, demonstration or gathering.
Also in Lahore, protests continued in front of the Press Club against Israel and the US actions against Iran. Security at the United States Consulate has been reinforced with police units reinforcing the area.
Protesters began a sit-in after Zuhr prayers, carrying signs with Khamenei’s image. Anti-American slogans were reportedly raised, while the Riot Force maintained a heavy security presence at the protest site.
Also read: Iran’s embassy in Pakistan condemns Khamenei’s “barbaric” assassination
Meanwhile, Israel said it had launched another wave of attacks against Iran on Sunday, as Iranians faced uncertainty after the assassination of Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes that threatened to destabilize the entire Middle East.
Israel’s military said its attacks on Sunday morning targeted Iran’s air defense and ballistic missile systems, while on Saturday Iran had launched retaliatory strikes against US troops in the region. The Islamic Republic has also attacked cities in Israel, along with Arab countries allied with Washington.
