Islamabad, March 7 (NationPress) An esteemed global human rights organization has raised alarming concerns regarding the deaths of at least 26 individuals during widespread protests across Pakistan that ignited following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, last week.

Amnesty International has demanded a comprehensive, independent, and impartial inquiry into the fatalities, injuries, and aggressive actions taken by security forces during the protests on March 1.

Reports indicate that up to 10 protesters lost their lives and 96 sustained injuries outside the US Consulate in Karachi as demonstrators breached the compound. Numerous accounts suggest that gunfire was employed against the protesters, with many of the injured arriving at hospitals with gunshot wounds.

Amnesty International further reported that at least two protesters were killed and over 30 were injured near the Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad, where demonstrators claimed the use of kinetic impact projectiles and tear gas.

Additionally, the organization noted that 14 individuals, including a soldier, were killed in the Skardu region of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB), where protesters set fire to the office of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), along with a school and municipal buildings.

In response to the events, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, stated, “The deaths of protesters and allegations of lethal force employed by security personnel against these gatherings raise significant concerns regarding unlawful force usage. Protesters possess the right to assemble peacefully and express their dissent, even during high-tension moments. In such crises, security forces must demonstrate their commitment to preserving life and protecting peaceful assembly.

“Even when some protesters resort to violence, law enforcement must evaluate each situation individually, exercise restraint, and deploy force only when absolutely necessary. Any usage of force must be proportionate to the severity of the offense and the legitimate objective, aimed solely at those engaged in violence,” he remarked.

Emphasizing that lethal force should only be a last resort, directed exclusively at those posing an imminent threat to life, Pant insisted that Pakistani authorities must exercise restraint to prevent further injuries and fatalities during upcoming protests.

“Moreover, they must undertake all necessary measures to fulfill their obligations to uphold the right to peaceful assembly,” he emphasized.

Calling for a thorough investigation into these occurrences, Pant asserted, “The families of those who lost their lives and the injured individuals deserve justice.”