Western brands have been hit by boycotts and other forms of protests in Muslim-majority countries due to the Gaza war.Police have arrested close to 200 people in Pakistan in recent weeks after more than 10 group attacks on outlets of the United States-based fast-food chain KFC, sparked by anti-US sentiment, unconditional US backing for Washington’s close ally Israel and opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza, officials say.
The fast-food chain has become a target of protest and boycott calls by Islamist parties since the start of the war in Gaza as they link the brand to US support for Israel.
At least 178 people have been arrested, the officials said this week.
Police in major cities in Pakistan – including the southern port city of Karachi, the eastern city of Lahore and the capital, Islamabad – confirmed at least 11 incidents in which KFC chicken restaurants were attacked by protesters armed with sticks and vandalised.
A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one KFC employee was shot and killed this week in a store on the outskirts of Lahore by unknown gunmen. The official added there was no protest at the time and police were investigating whether the killing was politically motivated or for some other reason. Advertisement
In Lahore, police said they were ramping up security at 27 KFC outlets after two attacks took place and five were prevented.
“We are investigating the role of different individuals and groups in these attacks,” Faisal Kamran, a senior Lahore police off …
