In the last few weeks, there has been a surge of restiveness in Pakistan, as more than 200 individuals were detained after a series of attacks on KFC outlets of the US fast food chain. The attacks, linked to growing anti-US sentiments and resistance to unconditional support for Israel, reached new heights in the ongoing war in Gaza.
KFC has been targeted by demonstrations and calls for boycott by Islamist groups since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, with protests identifying the brand as representing American backing of Israel. At least 178 have been arrested, authorities say, in connection with such activities.
Reported confirmed attacks on KFC restaurants have taken place in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, with rioters using sticks and burning the restaurants. In the violent attacks, one KFC employee was tragically gunned down and shot dead by masked attackers near Lahore, and investigations are ongoing to determine the motive for the attack.
In reaction to the growing violence, Lahore police have beefed up security at 27 KFC restaurants following a string of attacks, two of which were successful and five attempts that were aborted. Senior police officer Faisal Kamran stated the investigation was looking into the involvement of many people and groups and stated that 11 people, one from Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), have been detained. He clarified that the protests were not officially led by the TLP.
TLP spokesman Rehan Mohsin Khan emphasized that while the party has issued a call for boycotting Israeli products, it has not endorsed demonstrations outside KFC outlets. Any demonstrations by individuals claiming to represent the TLP need to be viewed as personal acts and not the party line.
Western brands have faced increased boycott and attack in Pakistan and other Muslim countries in response to Israel’s Gaza military incursions. McDonald’s experienced negligible growth last year linked to boycott activity in several markets, and Unilever posted significant Indonesia sales losses due to similar consumer protests.
One of the incidents that came to mind was the fire gutting a KFC restaurant in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in March, with protesters chanting slogans for Palestinian freedom. The Israeli-Palestinian war has witnessed over 51,900 fatalities, with over 1,139 Israeli casualties since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.
So far, KFC and its parent Yum Brands have not made a statement about the recent arrests in Pakistan.
