Rallies were held across various parts of Karachi on Monday as part of a global strike observed in several Muslim-majority countries, including Palestine, to protest Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza. The demonstrations echoed calls to end what activists describe as a relentless campaign of genocide against Palestinians.
In a wave of coordinated protests, demonstrators in Karachi targeted outlets of the American fast-food chain KFC, a brand included in the boycott list promoted by pro-Palestinian activists under the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. Protesters have accused certain Western brands of either openly supporting Israel or failing to distance themselves from the conflict.
At II Chundrigar Road, one of the city’s busiest commercial districts, protesters entered a KFC outlet, urging patrons to stop supporting companies allegedly complicit in Israeli actions. A video circulating on social media shows demonstrators emphasizing that their protest was peaceful, with one individual audibly assuring staff, “Please don’t shut the outlet, we mean no harm.”
The rally remained largely non-violent, with participants unarmed and focused on raising awareness about the suffering of Palestinians. However, tensions spiked in the Bahadurabad area, where another KFC branch was reportedly vandalized. Eyewitnesses reported seeing individuals hurling stones at the building, though no injuries were reported.
The global boycott campaign has gained significant traction, especially in Pakistan, where many consumers have shifted toward local brands. In June 2024, McDonald’s shut down its longstanding outlet at Najeeb Centre on Tariq Road following sustained boycott calls. Nevertheless, many international chains, including KFC, McDonald’s, and Pepsi, continue to operate in the country without formal bans.
The movement gained further legitimacy in July 2023 when the Pakistani government officially declared a nationwide boycott of Israeli products, reaffirming its support for the Palestinian cause.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, protest actions like these demonstrate growing grassroots support for the global BDS movement and increasing pressure on corporations linked—directly or indirectly—to the conflict.
