FAISALABAD: Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, has denounced the recent assaults on international food outlets across Pakistan, labeling them as “un-Islamic” and “totally intolerable.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Faisalabad on Saturday, he stressed that the government is fully committed to maintaining order and will take strict action against those responsible for the violence.
“The government is fully aware of its duties. Targeting investors and businesses operating in Pakistan is absolutely unjustifiable,” he stated.
Talal revealed that nearly 20 such incidents had been reported, primarily targeting foreign fast-food chains in different cities. In Punjab, 12 First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed and 142 suspects were detained. In Islamabad, two incidents resulted in 15 arrests.
He emphasized that these businesses provide employment to around 25,000 Pakistanis and that disrupting their operations endangers local livelihoods. “These attacks are not just against Islamic principles, they are also a blow to our economy,” he added.
According to the minister, many of the arrested individuals expressed remorse and apologized for their actions after being taken into custody.
He clarified that no political group had endorsed or taken responsibility for the attacks, and all had distanced themselves from the incidents.
Talal concluded by noting that no further incidents had occurred since the previous day, suggesting that the government’s firm measures were successfully discouraging further unrest.
