A tragic event in Sheikhupura has sparked outrage after a KFC employee was shot and killed during a violent protest led by a hardline right-wing group amid intensifying anti-Israel demonstrations in Pakistan.
According to police reports, the protestors, affiliated with an extremist political party, stormed the American fast-food outlet early in the morning. Armed assailants ransacked the restaurant and opened fire on the staff, fatally shooting an employee identified as Asif Nawaz. Other workers managed to flee the scene.
Read more: Protests Target KFC Outlet in Muzaffarabad Over Alleged Support for Israel
Law enforcement swiftly responded to the attack, detaining over 30 suspects as investigations continue to track down all individuals involved in the assault.
This attack is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence against Western-owned eateries across Pakistan. Just a day prior, several fast-food outlets in Rawalpindi were damaged, while similar incidents were reported in Lahore and Karachi, where parts of buildings were set on fire.
To date, at least 17 individuals have been arrested in connection with these attacks, with further raids ongoing. The rise in targeted aggression against global franchises, allegedly linked to anti-Israel sentiments, has raised serious questions about public safety and the government’s control over extremist factions.
