A wave of protests targeting KFC branches across Pakistan has resulted in the death of a man and dozens of arrests, as anger over the war in Gaza continues to drive public unrest.
Demonstrators accuse the fast-food chain of being a symbol of American and Israeli interests, prompting calls for a boycott and sparking violent incidents in several cities.
The protests, which erupted in major urban centers including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, involved mobs attacking KFC outlets. In some cases, stores were vandalized, looted, or even set on fire. Social media videos show protestors armed with metal rods storming restaurants, chanting slogans, and threatening staff. In Karachi alone, two locations were torched before police could intervene.
Tragedy struck on April 14 in Sheikhupura, a city near Lahore, where 45-year-old KFC employee Asif Nawaz was fatally shot during one such protest. Police say Nawaz was working in the kitchen when a bullet struck him in the shoulder from over 100 feet away. Although shots fired from that distance are rarely lethal, the bullet moved toward his chest, leading to fatal internal damage, according to the post-mortem report. Authorities believe the shooting may have been accidental, and the investigation into the gunman is ongoing. So far, 40 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
While anger against Western brands has been brewing in Pakistan since the onset of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, both religious and political figures have warned against violence. The Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which has actively supported a boycott of American and Israeli-linked products, denied any role in the attacks. A spokesman reiterated the group’s position, saying they have not called for protests outside specific stores.
Prominent Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani echoed the call for non-violence, urging protestors to remain peaceful. At a recent conference, he emphasized that while boycotting certain products is encouraged, causing harm or risking lives contradicts the teachings of Islam.
The incident in Pakistan is part of a broader pattern of backlash against Western companies seen as being affiliated with Israel. Global brands like McDonald’s and Starbucks have already faced protests and declining sales in several Muslim countries due to similar perceptions. McDonald’s recently bought back all of its Israeli outlets after suffering financial losses linked to the boycott.
KFC and its parent company Yum Brands have not commented publicly on the violence or ongoing protests. Meanwhile, police remain deployed outside many of the chain’s locations across Pakistan, trying to prevent further unrest.
As tensions rise, calls for justice for Asif Nawaz are growing louder, with his death becoming a painful reminder of how quickly demonstrations can spiral out of control.