Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Sunday said a number of recent attacks aimed at international fast food stores in Pakistan were performed under an “organized” and “deliberate plan”.
The attacks, concentrated in Punjab and Sindh provinces, broke out in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Protesters and violent groups of vandalized, set fire to and pelted stones at the business of international fast food chains.
A deadly incident in Sheikhupura district resulted in the killing of a restaurant employee after armed men opened fire on April 14.
By tackling a press conference in Lahore, Bokhari claimed that these events were not isolated or spontaneous. “It is important to note that all these attacks are only taking place according to a plan in Punjab,” she said. She claimed that an extremist group was behind the violence for the purpose of disturbing peace and stability.
Authorities, Bokhari said, had arrested 149 suspects so far in connection with the attacks. A total of 14 first information reports (FIRs) had been registered, including 71 arrests in Sheikhupura, 33 in Rawalpindi, and others over Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan and Faisalabad.
Bokhari accused political and extremist elements of exploiting religious mood for their own agendas. “These people love neither Pakistan nor want peace, investment or development in the country. There may also be some foreign hand involved in this,” she said.
The Minister called on the courts to award exemplary penalties to those responsible and urged priests to speak stronger against the attacks and warned that such violence harms ordinary Pakistanis rather than supporting Palestinians.
“The 25,000 Pakistanis working at these fast food stores will lose their jobs. Will this benefit the population of Gaza? These are Pakistani companies driven by Pakistanis,” she emphasized.
Bokhari confirmed the government’s obligation to peace and order and said that no one would be allowed to take the law in their own hands in the name of religion or politics. She said the government would pass on further details of the crash when relevant, confirming that the AID efforts at Gaza continued.
At least three restaurants were attacked in Karachi earlier this month, while reports of events in Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamabad were reported. CCTV recordings were used to track several suspects involved in the attacks.
The violence in Pakistan comes as Israeli forces continue their offensive in Gaza after Hamas’ attack October 7, 2023, with over 50,000 Palestinians reported killed and much of Gaza’s civil infrastructure destroyed.
