Authorities have launched a fact-finding inquiry into the violent unrest outside the United States Consulate General Karachi that left 11 people dead and 41 injured.
The clashes occurred in Karachi during protests that erupted after the reported assassination of Ali Khamenei.
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The investigation is being conducted by a committee formed by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh to determine the sequence of events and assess the security response.
Senior Police Officials Appear Before Committee
Several senior police officers appeared before the inquiry committee after being summoned.
Among those present were Shabbir Sethar and Kashif Abbasi.
The committee also recorded statements from Asad Raza and Farooq Lanjhar.
Other officers who testified included Amjad Sheikh, Mehzor Ali, Arif Aziz, and Zubair Nazeer Sheikh.
Sequence of Events Presented
During the hearing, SSP Amjad Sheikh briefed the committee on the sequence of events. Video footage of the unrest outside the US Consulate was also presented as part of the investigation.
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According to the briefing, protesters marched from the Mai Kolachi Road Sultanabad checkpoint toward the consulate.
At the time, four police vehicles and four motorcycles with officers were deployed in the area, while more than 15 police personnel were stationed at the consulate gate.
Officials told the committee that the number of protesters had exceeded 400, significantly outnumbering the police presence.
Clashes Between Protesters and Police
Witnesses said demonstrators began pelting stones at the consulate building and police shortly after reaching the site.
Police reportedly fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, but some protesters picked up the shells and threw them back toward officers.
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Media reports stated that the tensions escalated as a large number of demonstrators gathered near the main gate of the consulate.
Investigation Ongoing
Officials said the inquiry committee is reviewing video evidence and assessing the level of police deployment during the incident.
Media reports added that additional officers may be called to testify as the investigation continues.
Protests erupted in several areas following the assassination of Ali Khamenei, which triggered demonstrations in different countries.
In Karachi, the protest outside the US Consulate turned violent, resulting in multiple casualties and prompting authorities to launch an official investigation into the handling of the situation.
