Pakistan Arrests 178 After Anti-KFC Attacks Amid Gaza War Protests
Outlets of U.S.-based fast food chain targeted in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad as public anger mounts over American support for Israel’s war on Gaza.
Watan-Officials have reported that Pakistani police have arrested dozens of people over the past few weeks following more than 10 attacks on outlets of the American fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), triggered by anti-American sentiment and opposition to the war waged by its ally, Israel, on the Gaza Strip.
Police in major cities—including Karachi on the southern coast, Lahore in the east, and the capital, Islamabad—confirmed that at least 11 incidents involved attacks on KFC branches by protesters armed with sticks.
Authorities said this week that at least 178 individuals have been arrested.
According to Reuters, neither KFC nor its parent company, Yum! Brands—both based in the United States—have responded to requests for comment.
KFC Employee Killed Amid Heightened Tensions in Lahore
A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that one KFC employee was shot and killed this week at a store on the outskirts of Lahore by unidentified gunmen.
He added that there were no protests at the time of the incident, and authorities are investigating whether the killing was politically motivated or driven by other reasons.
In Lahore, police announced enhanced security measures at 27 KFC branches across the city after two attacks took place and five other planned attacks were thwarted.
Senior police officer Faisal Kamran stated, “We are investigating the involvement of various individuals and groups in these attacks,” adding that 11 people have been arrested in Lahore, including a member of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party. He noted, however, that the party did not officially organize the protests.
Rehan Mohsin Khan, a spokesperson for TLP, stated that while the movement “has urged Muslims to boycott Israeli products, it has not issued any call to protest outside KFC restaurants.”
Several countries have witnessed boycott campaigns against companies supporting the Israeli occupation since the war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, backed by the United States. The war has resulted in over 167,000 Palestinians killed or injured, in addition to thousands reported missing—amid widespread accusations of Israeli war crimes.
