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Pakistani Police Arrest Dozens Following KFC Protests Amid Gaza Conflict
Law enforcement in Pakistan has apprehended numerous individuals after a series of protests targeted branches of the fast-food chain KFC across the nation. These demonstrations, fueled by anger over the conflict in Gaza and calls to boycott brands perceived as linked to Israel, tragically resulted in the death of one man.
Boycott Calls and Protests Target Fast-Food Chain
Demonstrators, expressing outrage at the ongoing war in Gaza, have been advocating for a boycott of KFC, asserting that the restaurant chain represents the United States and its ally, Israel. At least eleven separate incidents have been verified across major Pakistani urban centers, including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad.
Violent Incidents and Property Damage
Social media footage depicts groups of people, wielding metal bars, forcibly entering KFC establishments and threatening arson before police intervened and detained protesters. In Karachi, two KFC locations were deliberately set ablaze, causing significant property damage.
One online video captured a man shouting, “They are using your money to buy bullets,” underscoring the protesters’ motivations.
KFC Employee Killed in Sheikhupura
A police official confirmed to BBC News the fatality of Asif Nawaz, a 45-year-old KFC employee. Nawaz was fatally wounded during protest activity in Sheikhupura, a city near Lahore, on April 14th.
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According to Sheikhupura Regional Police Officer Athar Ismail, Nawaz was working in the kitchen when he was struck in the shoulder by a bullet fired from a handgun at a distance exceeding 100 feet. Ismail informed BBC News that while the principal perpetrator remains at large, authorities have made 40 arrests in connection with the incidents.
Although shots fired from such distances are typically not lethal, a post-mortem examination revealed the bullet, after impacting Nawaz’s shoulder, traveled towards his chest, causing fatal injuries.
Mr. Ismail indicated to BBC News that preliminary investigations suggest there is no evidence to indicate Mr. Nawaz was the intended victim, raising the possibility that the shooting was accidental.
Religious and Political Figures Condemn Violence, Urge Peaceful Demonstrations
Across Pakistan, prominent figures have publicly condemned the Gaza conflict and its impact. The Islamist political party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), has issued calls for protests against both Israel and the United States but has denied any involvement in the attacks on KFC restaurants.
Mufti Taqi Usmani, a highly influential Sunni scholar in Pakistan, has voiced support for boycotting products perceived to have connections to the conflict in Gaza.
However, both the TLP and Mufti Usmani have appealed to protesters to refrain from violence.
In remarks delivered at the National Palestine Conference on Thursday, Usmani emphasized the importance of boycotting products and entities linked to Israel. Yet, he stressed that Islam “does not condone harming others,” explicitly prohibiting actions that “endanger lives.”
“Therefore, continue your protests and boycotts,” he advised, “but ensure they remain peaceful. Violence and non-peaceful conduct are unacceptable.”
TLP spokesman Rehan Mohsin Khan stated that the group “has called upon Muslims to boycott Israeli products, but has not initiated any calls for demonstrations specifically targeting KFC.”
Wider Trend of Western Brands Affected by Boycotts
Numerous Western brands have faced attacks, boycotts, and protests in Pakistan and other Muslim-majority nations since the commencement of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Last year, McDonald’s confirmed its decision to repurchase all of its restaurants in Israel following a substantial decline in sales attributed to boycotts stemming from perceived support for Israel.
In 2023, Starbucks issued a plea for peace and attributed ongoing protests and boycott campaigns, partially linked to the Israel-Gaza war, to “misrepresentation” of its corporate stance.
As of now, KFC and its parent company, Yum Brands, have not issued a response to requests for comment from the BBC.