Gilgit – Another victim of the violent clashes in Gilgit’s Jutial area has succumbed to injuries sustained during intense confrontations between protesters and security forces, pushing the local death toll from the incident to eight.

The latest fatality occurred as the injured individual, who had been receiving treatment following the Sunday firing, could not survive his critical wounds. Hospital sources confirmed the development late Monday, amid ongoing grief and tension across the region.

The Jutial incident unfolded as part of widespread demonstrations in Gilgit-Baltistan triggered by reports of the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

Protesters, expressing outrage over the killing of the revered figure—viewed by many in the Shia-majority areas as a spiritual leader—took to the streets in large numbers.

In Gilgit’s Jutial locality, clashes escalated when demonstrators moved toward sensitive installations, leading clashes with security personnel as protesters set on fire United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office. According to initial reports, seven protesters killed on the spot, with over a dozen others injured. The additional death now brings the confirmed fatalities linked to the Jutial firing to eight.

The unrest was not isolated to Gilgit. Similar violent protests erupted in Skardu and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, where crowds set fire to a United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office, causing significant damage. Nationwide, demonstrations spread to cities like Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore, resulting in dozens more casualties and injuries, with authorities deploying additional forces and imposing restrictions on large gatherings.

Officials have yet to issue a comprehensive official statement on the total casualties or the exact circumstances of the Jutial firing, but local sources describe the scenes as chaotic, with deep sorrow and anger prevailing among residents.

The Gilgit-Baltistan administration has appealed for calm and urged protesters to avoid violence, while promising a thorough investigation into the events. Meanwhile, families of the deceased continue to mourn, and calls for justice and accountability echo through the affected communities.

This unfolding tragedy underscores the profound regional impact of developments in the Middle East and highlights the fragile law and order situation in Pakistan’s northern territories amid heightened geopolitical tensions.