Violent clashes broke out in Pakistan's largest city of Karachi on Sunday evening as local police attempted to disperse protesters marching towards the US Consulate to mourn the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
Social media videos captured police firing tear gas and warning shots, while protesters retaliated by throwing stones and attempting to breach barriers set up to block access to the consulate.
The demonstrations were organized by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, a Pakistani Shi’a Islamic political organization, which claimed that their protests nationwide were intended to be peaceful.
According to a statement from the Karachi Police, the protesters attempted to move beyond the designated protest area and engaged in violent behavior, including stone-throwing and rioting.
Simultaneously, a separate rally took place in the capital city of Islamabad, where approximately 4,000 individuals gathered to denounce Israel's assassination of Nasrallah.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the killing as a reckless act and a significant escalation in an already volatile region.
Hassan Nasrallah, a co-founder of Hezbollah, was revered by a devoted following as both a religious and political leader. Hezbollah, established four decades ago, has emerged as a powerful Iranian proxy within a network of aligned militant groups spanning Yemen, Syria, Gaza, and Iraq.
The United States and many Western nations have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, attributing responsibility to Nasrallah and the group for a series of violent attacks spanning the past 40 years.
