At least 160 people have been arrested across Pakistan following a wave of violent attacks on KFC restaurants, as tensions flared over perceived US backing for Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza. One employee was shot dead during the unrest, the Pakistani government confirmed on Saturday.
The American fast-food giant has become a symbolic target for Islamist parties and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Pakistan, who link KFC to US support for Israel. Protests and boycott calls have been gaining momentum since the start of the conflict, with demonstrators vandalizing outlets, smashing windows, starting fires, and threatening staff.
“A total of 20 incidents occurred across Pakistan with one fatality reported. The man was a staff member at KFC,” Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry said during a press briefing. He added, “KFC is under attack.”
The fatal shooting occurred at a KFC branch on the outskirts of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, last Sunday. However, local police told AFP that the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and they are investigating whether it was directly related to the protests.
Out of the 160 arrests made so far, 145 took place in Punjab province and 15 in the federal capital, Islamabad.
Chaudhry emphasized that the fast-food chain employs Pakistani citizens and sources materials locally, asserting, “These restaurants source everything locally and employ Pakistani staff, and their earnings remain within the country.”
Despite repeated requests for comment, KFC and its parent company Yum! Brands have not yet issued a statement on the attacks.
The latest unrest is not an isolated incident. In March last year, protesters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir set fire to a KFC outlet while chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine.”
As tensions surrounding the Gaza war continue to stir strong emotions globally, businesses perceived to be linked to the US or Israel face growing backlash in several countries, including Pakistan.
Sources By Agencies
