A joint investigation team (JIT) has formally begun investigating Sunday’s violent protest at the US Consulate in Karachi. The investigation follows a massive demonstration that escalated into chaos, resulting in multiple casualties.
Thousands of people had gathered at the consulate following recent developments in Iran, including attacks on Iranian leaders. Protesters reportedly crossed multiple districts to reach the consulate, where they breached the outer gate and created a chaotic situation.
Gunshots were fired during the unrest, leaving eight people dead on the spot and several others injured. Three of the injured later died, bringing the total death toll to 11. Police have already registered three separate FIRs at the Docks police station in the South Zone, all against unidentified individuals. One FIR relates to the firing at the consulate that caused deaths and injuries.
The second FIR concerns the burning of a police armoured personnel carrier and a traffic police post. The third FIR pertains to an incident at the Native Jetty Bridge, where seven people, including two women, were injured.
Although police have registered an FIR against unidentified individuals for the deaths and injuries resulting from the firing at the consulate, the situation became somewhat complicated when the international news agency Reuters reported on Tuesday that US officials have confirmed that US Marines had opened fire on the demonstrators during the consulate attack.
However, initial reports indicate that it is unclear if the Marines’ bullets had hit anyone or if private security guards and local police had also fired gunshots during the incident. The JIT, led by Counter Terrorism Department Additional IGP Zulfiqar Larik, will conduct an investigation from multiple angles, including the origin and direction of the firing.
They will also identify who fired which shot and who was struck by which bullet, how such a large crowd crossed multiple districts and entered the consulate premises, and the sequence of events leading to the unrest inside the consulate.
Faisal Edhi, who was present outside the consulate during the incident, had earlier claimed that several protesters pushed past police barriers and forcibly entered the consulate. He said security staff inside opened fire to disperse the crowd, resulting in casualties with gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
When senior police officers, including Sindh police chief IGP Javed Alam Odho, Karachi police chief Addl IGP Azad Khan and Addl IGP Larik, were approached for comment, no official response was provided.
