Authorities have launched a thorough fact-finding mission to investigate the violent disturbances that erupted outside the US Consulate in Karachi, which tragically claimed the lives of 11 individuals and left 41 others injured. The unrest followed the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, sparking widespread protests and confrontations in the city. This inquiry aims to uncover the sequence of events and assess the response of law enforcement during the chaotic incident.
The Counter Terrorism Department of Sindh has constituted a dedicated committee to carry out this investigation. Key officials involved in the probe include SSP Shabbir Sethar and AIG Operations Kashif Abbasi, who have been actively overseeing the proceedings. Additionally, senior police officers such as DIG South Asad Raza and DIG East Farooq Lanjhar were summoned to provide their testimonies before the committee, highlighting the seriousness with which the inquiry is being conducted.
Several other senior police officials, including SSP Amjad Sheikh, SSP South Mehzor Ali, SSP City Arif Aziz, and SSP East Zubair Nazeer Sheikh, have also given detailed statements. During the hearings, SSP Amjad Sheikh presented a comprehensive briefing on the events leading up to and during the unrest. The committee was shown video footage capturing the turmoil outside the consulate, which is expected to play a crucial role in piecing together the facts.
The briefing revealed that the protest began with a march from the Mai Kolachi Sultanabad checkpoint heading towards the US Consulate. Initially, law enforcement had deployed four police vehicles and four motorcycles staffed with personnel to manage the crowd. At the consulate gate, more than 15 officers were stationed to maintain order, but the number of protesters quickly swelled to over 400, escalating tensions on the ground.
As the crowd’s behavior grew increasingly hostile, police forces advanced to contain the situation. Eyewitnesses reported that demonstrators began throwing stones at both the consulate and the police officers shortly after their arrival. The situation intensified when a large group of protesters gathered at the main gate and retaliated by throwing back tear gas canisters that had been deployed by the police in an attempt to disperse them.
Currently, the inquiry committee is meticulously reviewing all available video evidence and evaluating whether the police deployment was adequate and appropriate given the circumstances. There is an indication that more law enforcement personnel might be called in for questioning as the investigation unfolds further. This probe is expected to shed light on the causes of the violence and the effectiveness of the security measures in place during the protest.
