Pakistan, which has been luring the American administration and had recently joined the so-called 'Board of Peace'-- a multibillion-dollar project pushed by the US President to rebuild Gaza, has plunged into chaos over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei, who assembled theocratic power in Iran over the decades as its top leader and sought to turn it into a regional powerhouse, bringing it into confrontation with Israel and the United States over its nuclear program while crushing democracy protests, has been killed in US and Israeli strikes. He was 86.

Iranian state media reported the death early Sunday, after a major attack launched by Israel and the United States.

However, demonstrations against the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran turned violent in Pakistan on Sunday. While in other parts of the world, Iranian exiles took to the streets to celebrate the death of Khamenei.

23 killed in Pakistan's violent protests

At least 23 protesters were killed in clashes in Pakistan, including 10 in the port of Karachi, where security guards at the US consulate fired on demonstrators who breached the outer wall, 11 in the northern city of Skardu, where the crowd torched a UN office, and two in Islamabad.

Why are Pakistanis furious after the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader?

Iran's neighbours to the east and west, Pakistan, has the world's largest Shi'ite Muslim population after Iran, and was the scene of some of the worst unrest from crowds angry at the US-Israeli attacks. Protesters in Karachi chanted "Death to America! Death to Israel!" at the consulate. Gunfire and tear gas were fired in the surrounding streets.

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Consulate security staff opened fire at a crowd who were pushed back after breaching the outer security layer, said Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, a local government spokesman. The demonstrators also set a vehicle ablaze outside the main gate and clashed with police, he said. "We are in constant touch with consulate officials. They are all safe," Hemnani added.

The US Embassy in Islamabad said in a post on X that it was monitoring reports of demonstrations and advised US citizens to observe good personal security practices. Thirty-four people were injured, police said.

Karachi's Civil Hospital said all those killed and injured were hit with gunshots. The provincial government of Sindh ordered an inquiry.

UN Office set on fire in Pakistan

Skardu, where the UN building was set ablaze, is in Gilgit Baltistan in the north, Pakistan's only province where Shi'ites are the plurality. "A large number of protesters have gathered outside the UN office and burned down the building," local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir told news agency Reuters. The figure of 11 killed was provided by a government official and an intelligence official, both on condition of anonymity. Protesters also took to the streets in other parts of Pakistan, carrying black flags and chanting "Down with America!" and anti-Israel slogans.

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In the central city of Lahore, police said hundreds gathered outside the US consulate. There were some small-scale clashes with police, who fired tear gas. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged protesters to remain peaceful. "We stand with you," he said, adding that every Pakistani was as grief-stricken as the people of Iran.

In the capital Islamabad, all roads leading to the Red Zone, which houses diplomatic missions, were blocked to traffic, police said. Police fired tear gas and live bullets when thousands of protesters tried to march toward the diplomatic enclave, killing two and injuring nearly 10, two officials said on condition of anonymity. Elsewhere, protests took place in countries where Iran has influence.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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