Protests Erupt in Islamabad Over Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Pakistan’s capital on Sunday, chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans in furious response to the confirmed assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli military strikes.

The protests, largely organized by Shia religious groups including Tehreek-e-Jafaria, saw crowds marching toward the heavily fortified Red Zone diplomatic enclave, home to the US Embassy and other foreign missions. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, and roadblocks under Section 144 orders banning public gatherings, leading to clashes near areas such as Serena Chowk and Aabpara.

Protesters waved Iranian flags, burned tires in some instances, and shouted slogans including “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” while expressing solidarity with Iran and mourning Khamenei as a “martyr.” Reports from local media and eyewitness accounts describe police efforts to prevent marchers from reaching the embassy, with heavy deployments maintaining high alert status.

The situation remains tense, with sit-ins occurring a few kilometers from the diplomatic area involving around 1,000 participants in some estimates.