Mass funeral held in Karachi for protesters killed near US Consulate
KARACHI: Thousands of mourners gathered at Numaish on Sunday night to offer funeral prayers for seven protesters who lost their lives during clashes near the US Consulate in Karachi.
The deceased were among ten individuals killed when security forces allegedly opened fire during a demonstration against the reported assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Authorities confirmed that the bodies of three other victims were transported to their hometowns for burial.
Heavy security deployed
Police and Pakistan Rangers maintained strict security arrangements across the area to prevent further unrest.
Carrying red flags, mourners occupied both tracks of M.A. Jinnah Road as the coffins were brought to the venue. The crowd chanted slogans and demanded justice for the deceased.
Religious scholars and community elders addressed the gathering, appealing for calm and urging supporters to continue their struggle peacefully.
Ayatollah Ghulam Abbasi Raisi led the funeral prayers.
Three days of mourning announced
Earlier, prominent religious leaders — including Allama Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi, Allama Shabbir Hassan Meesami, Allama Qazi Noorani, and Allama Amin Shaheedi — addressed a press conference.
They announced three days of nationwide mourning and urged citizens to hoist black flags to express solidarity and grief.
The leaders also demanded the registration of a case against the US consul general over the killings and called for the immediate removal of Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar, alleging responsibility for what they described as excessive firing in Karachi.
Authorities have yet to issue an official response to these demands.
