Pakistani authorities arrested around 160 people after attacks on KFC restaurants across the country left one employee dead, officials announced Saturday.
The American fast-food chain faces boycotts from Islamist groups who associate it with US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
“A total of 20 incidents occurred across Pakistan, with one fatality reported. The man was a staff member at KFC,” deputy interior minister Talal Chaudhry said during a news conference.
The fatal shooting happened at a KFC branch near Lahore, Punjab province’s capital.
Police have not determined if the killing was linked to the recent protests.
Of those arrested, 145 were detained in Punjab province and 15 in Islamabad.
All suspects confessed and expressed regret in video statements, according to Chaudhry.
Throughout April, protesters repeatedly targeted KFC locations, breaking windows, setting fires, and threatening staff.
Police in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad confirmed at least 11 instances where protesters with sticks vandalized the restaurants.
Authorities are increasing security at 27 KFC locations in Lahore after two attacks occurred and five more were prevented.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry linked the attacks primarily to activists from the hardline Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), without directly blaming the organization.
“Some party’s workers might have been present in their personal capacity, but no party is connected to this crime. Religious and other political parties have distanced themselves,” Chaudhry stated.
Senior Lahore police official Faisal Kamran confirmed that 11 people were arrested in the city, including one person linked to the TLP.
TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohsin Khan said that while the group encouraged Muslims to avoid buying Israeli goods, it had not called for demonstrations against KFC.
“If any person claiming to be affiliated with TLP engages in such activities, it should be viewed as their personal actions, unrelated to the party’s stance,” Khan added.
Government officials stressed that the attacks on KFC were unjustified given the chain’s local economic contributions.
“The entire management of KFC is from Pakistan. Whatever items they use, they buy them from Pakistani vendors. Its entire profit also remains within Pakistan,” Chaudhry said.
He added that the KFC business in Pakistan is run by local management, with investment exceeding $100 million and over 25,000 livelihoods tied to the franchise.
