US Embassy in Pakistan suspends all visa appointments

The US Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday said that it will be suspending all visa appointments till March 6 (Friday) amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

The announcement comes as Pakistan witnesses large-scale protests over the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iran conflict. The Consulates General in Lahore and Karachi will also stop visa appointments till Friday.

Protests rock Pakistan
Protests erupted across Pakistan on Sunday after the United States and Israel confirmed that Khamenei had been killed, with reports indicating that dozens of demonstrators were killed and many more were injured in violent clashes nationwide.

The American consulate in Peshawar, similarly, suspended all operations from Monday owing to the protests.

At least eight people were killed and over 30 injured after clashes erupted between police and demonstrators protesting US and Israeli strikes on Iran outside the United States Consulate in Pakistan’s Karachi on Sunday, according to local media reports citing rescue officials.

Protests organised by Shia groups escalated near the diplomatic compound, with demonstrators marching from Sultanabad towards Mai Kolachi and attempting to move closer to the heavily guarded consulate premises.

Scores of men forced their way towards the consulate premises as tensions escalated following the announced death of Khamenei.

Amid coordinated US–Israeli strikes against Iran, protesters gathered outside the consulate and stormed parts of its entrance area. Visuals circulating on social media showed a mob vandalising the entrance and reportedly setting parts of the building ablaze.