On Sunday, the Minister of Information of Punjab, Azma Bokhari, said that a series of recent attacks aimed at international fast food points in Pakistan had been carried out under a “deliberate plan” and “organized” and “deliberate”.
The attacks, concentrated in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, broke out in response to the military actions of Israel in Gaza. The demonstrators and violent groups were vandalized, set fire to and trampled stones in the points of sale of international fast food chains.
A fatal incident in the Sheikhupura district resulted in the murder of a restaurant employee after armed men opened fire on April 14.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Bokhari said that these incidents were not isolated or spontaneous. “It is important to note that all these attacks take place according to a plan in Punjab only,” she said. She allegedly alleged that an extremist group was behind violence, aimed at disrupting peace and stability.
The authorities said Bokhari, had previously arrested 149 suspects in connection with the attacks. A total of 14 first information reports (FIR) had been recorded, including 71 arrests in Sheikhupura, 33 in Rawalpindi and others in Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan and Faisalabad.
Bokhari accused political and extremists of exploiting religious feeling for their own programs. “These people do not like Pakistan or wish peace, investment or development in the country. There could also be a foreign hand involved in this, “she said.
The Minister urged the courts to grant exemplary sanctions to the officials and called on the religious to express himself more strongly against the attacks, warning that this violence harmed ordinary Pakistanis rather than supporting the Palestinians.
“The 25,000 Pakistanis who work in these fast food outlets will lose their jobs.
Bokhari reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peace and order, declaring that no one would be authorized to adopt the law in hand in the name of religion or politics. She declared that the government would disclose more details on the repression if necessary and confirmed that the efforts of assistance for Gaza continued.
At least three restaurants were attacked in Karachi earlier this month, while incidents were reported to Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamabad. Video surveillance images have been used to trace several suspects involved in attacks.
Violence in Pakistan is involved while Israeli forces continue their offensive in Gaza after the attack on Hamas on October 7, 2023, with more than 50,000 Palestinians reported and a large part of the devastated Gaza civil infrastructure.
