Pakistan police arrested at least 178 people following a series of coordinated attacks against the branches of a fast food chain based in the United States during demonstrations, officials confirmed this week.
Incidents have occurred in recent weeks in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
At least 11 chain outlets were vandalized by demonstrators armed with sticks, with several locations undergoing property damage.
Security has since been increased, especially in Lahore, where the police stated that they were actively monitoring and protected 27 points of sale after two were attacked and five other attempted attacks were thwarted.
“We are investigating the role of various individuals and groups in these attacks,” said Faire Kamran, a senior police official in Lahore.
He noted that 11 suspects had been arrested in Lahore only, including a member of a political group.
However, the group, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), denied orchestrating the attacks. TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohin Khan said that if the party supports a boycott of Israeli products, it has not called for events targeting the fast food chain.
“If a person claiming to be affiliated with our party has embarked on such acts, he did it alone,” he said.
The tilts would have come in the middle of a wave of boycott and demonstrations against Western brands across Pakistan and other Muslim majority nations, in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The fast food chain and his parent company did not publicly respond to incidents.
Meanwhile, companies in affected areas continue to strengthen security while the authorities are investigating the coordinated nature of the troubles.
