Islamabad, April 19, 2025: Police in Pakistan have arrested at least 178 individuals in recent weeks following a series of attacks on outlets of the U.S.-based fast-food chain KFC, amid growing anti-U.S. sentiment and protests over Washington’s staunch support for Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict, officials confirmed.
The arrests follow more than 10 incidents across major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, where KFC restaurants were vandalized by groups of protesters, many armed with sticks. The chain has increasingly become a symbol of U.S. influence, drawing the ire of demonstrators aligned with or inspired by Islamist groups protesting against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
In Lahore alone, police said they had stepped up security at 27 KFC locations after thwarting five attempted attacks and responding to two incidents of violence. “We are investigating the role of different individuals and groups in these attacks,” said senior police officer Faisal Kamran, adding that 11 suspects were arrested in the city, including one member of the Islamist political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). However, he clarified that the protests were not officially organized by the party.
TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohsin Khan distanced the group from the attacks, stating, “TLP has urged Muslims to boycott Israeli products, but it has not issued any call for protests outside KFC. If any individual acted independently, it does not reflect the party’s policy.”
One disturbing development emerged from the outskirts of Lahore, where a KFC employee was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no protest at the time and that authorities are investigating whether the killing was politically motivated or linked to other factors.
A KFC outlet in Pakistan-administered Kashmir was also set ablaze in March 2024 during a pro-Palestine protest, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine.”
The backlash against Western brands extends beyond Pakistan. Multinational companies like McDonald’s and Unilever have reported losses across Muslim-majority countries due to boycott campaigns related to the Gaza war. McDonald’s, for instance, said that boycotts in the Middle East and Southeast Asia contributed to significantly lower sales growth in late 2023. Unilever also cited “geopolitically focused, consumer-facing campaigns” as a reason for double-digit sales declines in Indonesia.
So far, KFC and its parent company Yum Brands have not issued a statement in response to the recent arrests or attacks in Pakistan.
Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which began 18 months ago, has led to the deaths of more than 51,900 people, according to local health officials. The conflict was triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed at least 1,139 people and resulted in over 200 hostages being taken.
