US suspends visa services in Pakistan amidst Karachi embassy attack fallout

ISLAMABAD (The Uttam Hindu): The US Embassy in Islamabad has announced that in light of the violent protests, visa and other services at the Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulates in Karachi and Lahore have been temporarily suspended. All scheduled appointments have been cancelled.

Violent protests erupted outside the US embassies in Karachi and Lahore on Sunday. In Karachi, a mob attempted to storm the US consulate premises. Security personnel opened fire to control the situation, killing 10 protesters and injuring more than 30.

Protests were also called outside the embassy in Islamabad and the consulate in Peshawar. At least 23 protesters have been reported killed across the country so far.

The protests are being held in response to the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US Embassy has advised its citizens to monitor local news and follow security guidelines.

According to news agency ANI, protesters in Skardu, a Shia-majority Gilgit-Baltistan, set fire to several government offices and a United Nations office. A curfew has been imposed and the Pakistan Army has been deployed to control the situation. Eleven protesters have been confirmed dead in Skardu.

According to the local newspaper Dawn, several roads in Karachi's western and southern districts have been closed due to the protests. Authorities have imposed Section 144. Islamabad police said a heavy police presence was deployed in the city and traffic was being controlled