Pakistan protest turns deadly over US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza
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A wave of anti-"Israel" protests has erupted across Pakistan, leaving one KFC employee dead and dozens arrested.
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Pakistanis stage a pro-Palestinian protest outside a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant calling for boycott of Israeli products on the outskirts of Islamabad on May 7, 2024. (AFP)
A wave of protests across Pakistan has left one man dead and dozens arrested, as public outrage over the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza continues to escalate. Demonstrators have targeted the US fast-food chain KFC for its ties to American and Israeli interests.
The unrest comes amid growing momentum for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, led by pro-Palestinian activists seeking to pressure companies that support or profit from the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
According to Pakistan’s Minister of State for the Interior, Talal Chaudhry, at least 20 attempted attacks on KFC branches were reported nationwide over recent days. Social media footage captured scenes, with one protester shouting, “They are buying bullets with the money you make.”
Protesters have called for a broader boycott of KFC over the Israeli war in Gaza, viewing the brand as emblematic of US support for the ongoing war crimes in Palestine.
🇵🇰 In Pakistan , KFC restaurants were attacked in protest against the genocide in the Gaza Strip#Boycott #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/q6OOOmLgvt
— BIC - Boycott Israel Community (@Boycottt_israel) April 10, 2025
Beyond the incidents in Pakistan, KFC has faced mounting challenges in the Middle East and North Africa, regions where pro-Palestinian sentiment runs deep. The brand has struggled to maintain its reputation amid increasing scrutiny and backlash from local communities and activist groups.
Violence erupts, one employee killed in Sheikhupura
The protests turned deadly on April 14 in Sheikhupura, near Lahore, where 45-year-old KFC employee Asif Nawaz was fatally shot. According to Regional Police Officer Athar Ismail, Nawaz had been working in the kitchen when a bullet, fired from more than 100 feet away, struck his shoulder and traveled toward his chest.
“There is no indication he was deliberately targeted,” Ismail said, suggesting the shooting may have been accidental. The main suspect remains at large, though police have made 40 arrests so far.
Officials urged the public to protest peacefully and avoid damaging businesses that provide local employment.
Religious and political leaders have also weighed in on the violence. Mufti Taqi Usmani, a prominent cleric, voiced support for a boycott of Israeli-linked products but strongly opposed violent action.
“Islam is not a religion that encourages harming others,” Usmani said at the National Palestine Conference. “Continue your protest and boycott, but do so in a peaceful manner. There should not be any element of violence or non-peaceful behavior.”
The Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has backed protests against US and Israeli policies but denied organizing attacks on KFC outlets. “We have not given any call for protest outside KFC,” said TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohsin Khan.
Western brands face backlash globally
This backlash is not unique to KFC. US brands targeted in Pakistan protests and other countries around the world include McDonald’s and Starbucks, both of which have faced consumer boycotts linked to their support for "Israel".
DISGUSTING AD MOCKING GAZA BY .@kfc
— Khalissee (@Kahlissee) February 18, 2024
KFC is literally mocking displaced Palestinians in Rafah whilst they are suffering FAMINE!
'Sorry, no tents here, just finger-lickin good chicken..!' pic.twitter.com/nHIl1DMLHw
However, the most significant effects have been observed in Muslim-majority nations in West, East, and Southeast Asia. In these regions, boycotts targeting various fast-food chains have started to imperil franchisees, despite local operators refuting claims linking their businesses to "Israel".
"I don't think that me boycotting these brands would affect them."
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 30, 2023
Think again.#PalestineGenocide #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/rGkj8vVwKt
McDonald’s has lately announced it would repurchase its Israeli franchises following a significant drop in sales, while Starbucks issued a public statement distancing itself from the ongoing Israeli war.
With growing calls for ethical consumption and accountability, US-based corporations face increasing pressure to clarify their political stances or risk being swept up in the tide of global protest and economic retaliation.
