In a worrying development, international fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), has been attacked in an apparent support of boycott on the evening of April 13, leaving the social media divided whether the act was right or wrong.
It merits a mention that multiple KFC and other international fast food chain restaurants have been attacked across the country over boycott of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The recent attack on KFC Rawalpindi Saddar branch has reignited the controversy among social media users about the types of violent protests taking place across the nation.
The recently viral footage shows a group of young men entering the KFC Rawalpindi Saddar branch, while hurling abuses at the employees and shouting at the customers present there. One man was swinging a baseball bat and hit the computer at the reception while hurling abuses, leading to panic in the KFC Rawalpindi.
The families, including women and children, hurriedly started fleeing the KFC Rawalpindi Saddar branch as the panic spread quickly.
The incident took place on April 13 in KFC Rawalpindi Saddar branch. Previously, Miscreants belonging to right-wing religious party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were arrested on Tuesday following a mob attack on Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC Pakistan) in Karachi’s DHA.
Series of attacks like KFC Rawalpindi
On April 9, another restaurant in Lahore’s DHA area came under attack after people pelted the building with stones and damaging the property. Similarly, over 100 members of TLP gathered in an attempt to attack yet another outlet of fast-food chain on M-9 Motorway on Wednesday evening.
On April 8, the mob attacked a restaurant in Mipurkhas, setting it on fire. However, the recent attack led to social media controversy after many people defended the act while others condemned the attack on KFC Rawalpindi Saddar branch.
One user on Reddit commented: “They think that they will go to paradise by hurling abuses in front of children. Ignorance at its peak!” Another user agreed, writing, “that is not Islam. If only they’d read smth before taking part in vandalism in its name. It just shows how much influence these peers have.”
Another Redditor wrote: “peak jahalat. they think they’re saving Palestine with swear words. Some people will be defending this even! That said, this sudden uptick in attacks on KFC specifically is suspicious..”
“Scary part is, on fb and insta majority people, including women, were defending this behaviour,” wrote another Redditor.
On Instagram, one user commended the act, writing, “Kya baaat ha bravoooo👏😂.” The comment gathered more than 180 likes, showing the deep divide amongst social media users about the act of violence.
Another insta user commented, “First time I loveeeeeeeeeee this badmaashi.. Plz continue in other’s branch.”
Meanwhile, another user comented, “Welllll done….love you brothers….maira dil krta tha in sub ke sir phar doun dande sotoun se….lattoun ke bhoot batoun se nahi mante…..sari branches bund krwao.”
Azaad English tried to take comments from KFC employees at Sector F-6 branch, however, the manager refused to give any comments, asserting that her workers are now allowed to speak with anyone.
It should also be noted that the Rawalpindi Police have stated that the suspects involved in KFC Saddar branch attack have been arrested through tracing by CCTV cameras.
A first information report (FIR) of the incident was lodged at the Cantt police station by the manager of the KFC Saddar branch under sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 506(ii) (criminal intimidation if threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Read more: Fact Check: is KFC Mardan closed amid calls for boycott over PSL sponsorship?
