Tensions flared in Pakistan’s Karachi on Tuesday as a large mob vandalized a KFC outlet, echoing similar incidents in Bangladesh. The attack occurred in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area, where nearly 40 young protestors, armed with sticks and stones, stormed the fast-food restaurant on Korangi Road.
As per Dawn, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed the arrests of 10 individuals. He stated that the protestors were expressing anger over US and Israeli policies in Gaza. Prompt police intervention managed to disperse the crowd before further damage could occur.
The incident is part of a broader trend of demonstrations seen across the Muslim world, driven in part by social media campaigns urging action against Western businesses. Authorities have since ramped up security at other KFC branches in the city to prevent further escalations.
In a related event the same night, a separate KFC location in Karachi’s Mohammad Ali Society was also attacked. Protestors reportedly disrupted the restaurant during a rally, demanding it shut down before damaging property with chairs, sticks, and stones. While a police report (FIR) was filed, no arrests have been made in that case yet, according to Bahadurabad Station House Officer Naveed Soomro.
The unrest comes in the wake of a broader strike organized by Karachi’s traders to show solidarity with Palestinians and protest the ongoing violence in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
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