A violent attack targeting a KFC outlet in Rawalpindi’s Saddar area has become the latest in a series of attacks on Western fast-food chains across Pakistan, as public outrage over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza continues to boil over.
Rawalpindi police confirmed on Monday that a first information report (FIR) had been registered following an assault on the American fast-food chain, with charges including rioting, criminal intimidation, and armed misbehavior.
“A case of rioting and abusive behavior at a branch of a fast-food chain in the Cantt area has been registered,” the Rawalpindi police said in a statement. “The case was filed under the complaint of the branch manager at the Cantt police station. The involved suspects have been identified after the case was registered.”
Violence, Threats, and Vandalism
The manager of the KFC branch reported that 10–12 individuals armed with sticks and rods stormed the premises on Sunday around 8:30 PM. According to the FIR, the attackers verbally abused staff and customers, issued death threats, and shouted slogans referencing the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
“When we stopped them from doing so, they abused us and kept threatening to kill us. I am filing a petition against them. Action should be taken,” the manager stated in his complaint.
Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing the assailants vandalizing the counter, chairs, and tables while invoking the plight of “innocent women and children” in Gaza.
Police officials said the suspects had been identified via CCTV footage and that their details were being verified through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). “The suspects will be arrested and brought to justice,” the statement continued. “Lawlessness, rioting, and misconduct with citizens will not be tolerated under any circumstances. A clear message has been sent that anyone violating the law and engaging in rioting will be dealt with firmly.”
KFC with families terrorized in Rawalpindi
byu/Alternatiiv inpakistan
Several Pakistanis on social media have emphasized that consumer boycotts and public awareness campaigns are the appropriate forms of protest, rejecting violence and vandalism as counterproductive.
Wider Pattern of Protests and Boycotts
The Rawalpindi incident follows similar attacks in Karachi, Lahore, and Mirpurkhas, where branches of KFC and Domino’s Pizza were targeted. In Karachi, three KFC branches and one Domino’s outlet were vandalized, while in Mirpurkhas, a mob set part of a KFC outlet on fire, looted the kitchen, and injured several police officers during clashes.
Police in Mirpurkhas arrested 15 suspects at the scene and later filed charges against 170 individuals under both the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act. In Karachi, around 40 suspects were arrested, according to police.
“The motive behind these attacks is clear—protest against US and Israeli policies in Gaza,” a senior police official in Karachi told reporters.
Is TLP behind this?
While some attacks have been attributed to religious-political groups, such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the party’s leadership has denied official involvement.
TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohsin Khan told Arab News: “If one or two members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan were present among the protesters out of their love for Gaza, it does not mean that it was the policy of the party or we support violence,” adding that “We are in favor of peaceful protests, and we are trying to pressure the Pakistani government to officially boycott all these products.”
Another political party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), has been actively campaigning in solidarity with Palestinians, organizing large-scale peaceful protests across Pakistan to condemn the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that have killed over 700 Palestinians, including women and children.
International brands caught in Geopolitical Crossfire
Since the war in Gaza escalated in October 2023, consumer boycotts of Western brands have intensified in many Muslim countries, driven largely by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement. The global, Palestinian-led campaign seeks to apply non-violent pressure on Israel to comply with international law and human rights standards.
While Domino’s is officially listed on the BDS boycott list for allegedly donating to the Israeli military (a claim the company denies), KFC is not, though it has still faced backlash. Critics argue that its operations and investments in Israel indirectly contribute to the conflict, an assertion denied by KFC, which insists it is a non-political entity.
KFC, owned by Yum! Brands, has faced consumer boycotts and protests in several countries across the Middle East and Asia. Yum! Brands has previously invested in Israeli startups, which has further fueled the perception of indirect complicity.
With tensions remaining high, security has been heightened at international fast-food franchises across major cities in Pakistan. Police say they are on alert for potential copycat attacks and have increased surveillance and deployments around high-risk commercial zones.
“These actions were driven by anger over US and Israeli policies in Gaza,” said Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza, referencing attacks in Karachi. “The attackers view these brands as extensions of American political influence.”