Tensions over the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict have sparked a wave of violent incidents in Pakistan, where at least 11 Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets were attacked in recent weeks. Authorities have arrested 178 people across several cities amid growing protests linked to anti-American sentiment.
The attacks, which took place in key urban centers like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, involved mobs armed with sticks vandalising KFC stores widely seen in Pakistan as a symbol of U.S. influence. Police officials confirmed the arrest count this week, noting that enhanced security has now been deployed around fast-food locations, particularly in Lahore, where 27 outlets are under protection.
KFC Employee Shot Dead in Lahore, Motive Under Investigation
The unrest escalated after a KFC employee was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside a store on Lahore’s outskirts. Police clarified that no protest was occurring at the time of the shooting, and investigators are still examining whether the killing was politically motivated or related to a personal dispute.
Senior Lahore police officer Faisal Kamran stated that several individuals linked to various groups were under investigation, including 11 suspects detained in Lahore alone. One of those arrested was identified as a member of the hardline Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). However, Kamran emphasised that the group had not officially called for demonstrations outside KFC locations.
TLP’s spokesperson Rehan Mohsin Khan confirmed the organisation had urged a boycott of products associated with Israel, but denied any directive encouraging violence or protests at American businesses. “If someone acted in the party’s name without approval, it should be treated as a personal action,” he said.
KFC and its parent company Yum Brands, both based in the United States, have not commented publicly on the incidents. Another Yum-owned brand, Pizza Hut, has reportedly suffered long-term impacts from boycott campaigns tied to the Gaza war.
Religious Leaders Call for Calm Amid Boycott of Western Brands
The unrest follows calls from religious leaders earlier this month for a nationwide boycott of products seen as supporting Israel or the U.S. economy. Clerics, however, appealed for peaceful protest and condemned property damage.
The broader context of these protests is rooted in the war that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Since then, according to local health officials in Gaza, over 51,000 Palestinians have died in retaliatory strikes by Israel.
This sentiment is also impacting consumer behaviour in Pakistan’s commercial landscape. Data from GlobalData shows a visible shift away from U.S. soft drink brands: Coca-Cola’s market share fell from 6.3% in 2022 to 5.7% in 2023, while PepsiCo saw a decline from 10.8% to 10.4%. Local competitors are increasingly gaining ground amid widespread boycott campaigns.
