Three cases registered over protest outside US Consulate in Karachi
Pakistan
The cases were registered at the Docks Police Station on the complaint of Police Inspector Nand Lal and include charges of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, and rioting.
KARACHI (Dunya News) - Sindh Police on Tuesday registered three cases against unidentified persons in connection with protest outside the US Consulate in Karachi on Sunday after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The cases were registered at the Docks Police Station on the complaint of Police Inspector Nand Lal and include charges of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, and rioting. The FIR mentions nine deaths and 31 injuries.
According to the text of the FIR, between 150 to 200 people were present at the scene, and some individuals entered the consulate premises.
It is noteworthy that, according to British media reports, US officials stated that American Marines opened fire on protesters who had stormed the consulate in Karachi.
According to Reuters, the use of force at a diplomatic mission is an unusual incident and could further escalate tensions amid nationwide protests following the killing of Iran’s leader. The report stated that 10 Pakistani citizens were killed in the incident.
US officials, citing preliminary information, said it was unclear whether the bullets fired by the Marines struck anyone or caused any fatalities. They also said it was not known whether other personnel assigned to protect the mission -- including private security guards and local police -- had also opened fire.
The report added that this was the first time US officials confirmed that Marines were involved in firing on protesters. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the provincial government, Sukh Dev Asardas Hemnani, stated that security personnel had opened fire, though he did not clarify which institution they belonged to.
It is worth mentioning that after Iran, Pakistan has the world’s second-largest Shia population. Following the spread of protests across Pakistan on Monday against attacks on Iran, the government imposed a ban on public gatherings nationwide.
