At least ten activists of the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were arrested after a mob ransacked a KFC outlet in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area, media reports said.
DIG-South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that the incident occurred at around 6pm when a group of 40-50 activists of the TLP, armed with sticks and stones, attacked an international fast-food outlet on Korangi Road and tried to vandalise it.
“Police responded immediately and dispersed the crowd,” Raza said.
Regarding the possible aim of the attack, the officer said, “Their motive was to protest against US / Israel policies in Gaza”.
Raza said that the situation had been brought under control and authorities are focusing on arresting the remaining protesters and their organisers.
He said the police had also beefed up security at other outlets of international fast-food chains.
Similar incident in Bangladesh
Bangladesh witnessed tense moments on Monday when mobs targeted Israeli-linked businesses, which included Bata, KFC, and Pizza Hut, during demonstrations held in Bogra, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, and other districts.
The protesters demanded a boycott of Israel-linked products and criticised the Israeli ‘aggression’ in Gaza.
Bogra
In Bogra, a major commercial hub in Northern Bangladesh, a large number of people marched towards the city centre, where they allegedly vandalised a Bata showroom.
The protestors, armed with banners, placards, and festoons, raised slogans condemning the genocide in Palestine and demanding the boycott of Israeli products, reported Dhaka Tribune.
The protest triggered massive traffic congestion in the city.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bogra Sadar police station SM Moinuddin told the newspaper that although the protestors threw bricks at the showroom, breaking the glass, no major untoward incident occurred.
Israel began the Gaza invasion after Hamas attacked the country and killing 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 250 people.
