Pakistan arrests 178 after mob attacks on KFC amid anti-US, anti-Israel protests

Authorities in Pakistan have arrested at least 178 people in connection with more than 10 mob attacks on KFC outlets across the country in recent weeks, as anti-American and anti-Israel sentiment intensifies in response to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Police in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, confirmed a series of incidents where angry protesters, some wielding sticks, vandalised and attacked branches of the US-based fast-food chain, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Officials said there have been at least 11 attacks on KFC locations, with most of the violence targeting outlets seen as symbolic of US influence.

In a particularly serious development, a KFC employee was shot and killed earlier this week at a branch on the outskirts of Lahore. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen were unknown and there were no protests at the time. Authorities are currently investigating whether the shooting was politically motivated or due to other reasons.

In Lahore, where two outlets were attacked and five more targeted unsuccessfully, police have ramped up security at 27 KFC locations. “We are investigating the role of different individuals and groups in these attacks,” said senior Lahore police officer Faisal Kamran. He confirmed that 11 people had been arrested in Lahore, including a member of the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). However, Kamran added that there was no indication that TLP had officially organised the protests.

TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohsin Khan also distanced the party from the violence, stating, “The group has urged Muslims to boycott Israeli products, but it has not given any call for protest outside KFC.” He emphasised that if any individual affiliated with the party had engaged in such actions, it was done independently and did not reflect TLP’s official stance.

KFC, which has long been perceived in Pakistan as a symbol of American culture and influence, has frequently been targeted during episodes of heightened anti-US sentiment. Both KFC and its parent company, Yum Brands, declined to comment on the recent incidents.

The attacks come amid a wave of boycotts and protests against Western brands in Pakistan and across several Muslim-majority countries in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. The war, which began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023—killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures—has resulted in the deaths of more than 51,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s local health authorities.

Yum Brands previously reported that its Pizza Hut franchise has also faced significant impact from boycotts linked to the conflict.

The backlash has also affected the beverage industry in Pakistan. Data from GlobalData indicates that Coca-Cola’s market share dropped from 6.3% in 2022 to 5.7% in 2023, while PepsiCo’s fell from 10.8% to 10.4% over the same period, as local brands gain ground amid consumer boycotts of American products.

Earlier this month, Pakistani religious clerics called for a nationwide boycott of companies believed to support Israel or the US economy. However, they urged protesters to refrain from violence or property destruction.

By Tamilla Hasanova