Pakistan orders 3-day curfew: 24 killed in pro-Iran rallies, Army deployed
Pakistan orders 3-day curfew across several sensitive areas as protests intensified following the reported killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US–Israeli military operation. Authorities moved swiftly to restrict public movement after demonstrations spiraled into deadly confrontations.
The unrest, which intensified on Sunday, left at least 24 people dead and dozens more injured, prompting authorities to deploy the army and tighten security nationwide.
According to officials, the curfew took effect before dawn on Monday in the northern districts of Gilgit, Skardu, and Shigar in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The area witnessed some of the most intense clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel. Government sources confirmed that at least 12 demonstrators and one security officer were killed in the region, with dozens wounded during confrontations.
Local rescue authorities reported multiple fatalities in Gilgit, while hospital officials in Skardu confirmed additional deaths as injured protesters were rushed for emergency treatment. The scale of the violence forced provincial authorities to seek military assistance to restore order.
UN Facilities Targeted in Gilgit-Baltistan
The unrest rapidly moved beyond routine rallies and turned into direct attacks on international facilities. Large crowds forced their way into offices associated with the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), the body tasked with overseeing ceasefire compliance in the contested Himalayan region of Kashmir. Protesters also targeted premises run by the United Nations Development Programme in Skardu, causing damage and raising security concerns for UN personnel in the area.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that demonstrators turned violent near the UN field station, causing vandalism and property damage. He emphasized that the safety of UN staff and premises remains a top priority, adding that the situation is being closely monitored.
In Gilgit, protesters reportedly set fire to a police station and damaged a school building along with the offices of a local charity organization. Officials described the unrest as one of the most serious breakdowns of law and order in the region in recent years.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Shabir Mir stated that security forces have since regained control of key areas, but the curfew will remain in effect until Wednesday to prevent further escalation. Islamabad police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged citizens to remain indoors, citing rapidly deteriorating security conditions.
Karachi and Islamabad See Deadly Clashes
The unrest extended beyond northern regions and spread to the country’s south. In Karachi, Pakistan’s main commercial center and key port city, at least 10 people lost their lives while more than 60 sustained injuries during a massive demonstration near the United States consulate.
Tensions escalated when protesters tried to advance toward the diplomatic premises, prompting security forces to intervene and resulting in violent confrontations.
In the federal capital, Islamabad, two additional demonstrators lost their lives while heading toward the US embassy, according to police reports. Security around diplomatic missions has since been significantly reinforced in major cities, including Peshawar and Lahore, amid fears of further unrest.
Due to heightened security risks stemming from the unrest, the US embassy, along with its consulates in Karachi and Lahore, temporarily suspended visa processing and standard American Citizen Services on Monday.
Regional Tensions Escalate
The federal government warned that public anger could intensify as demonstrations condemning Khamenei’s killing continue across the country. Authorities expressed concern that large gatherings may further destabilize already volatile areas.
In retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Tehran launched a sequence of drone and missile assaults across multiple Gulf states and into Israeli territory, hitting locations that host American and allied assets and stoking fears of a wider regional war. As Pakistan orders 3-day curfew and deploys the army to restore stability, officials say maintaining public order and protecting diplomatic installations remain the immediate priority. The coming days are expected to test the government’s ability to contain unrest while preventing the crisis from spilling over into a wider security emergency.
