LAHORE: Amid looming threats of penetration of the militant group Daesh-Islamic States (previously known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in Pakistan, the Lahore police have detected in the past few days a series of advertisement activity by unidentified people in some parts of the provincial capital.

The wall-chalking carrying the name of Daesh/Islamic State had first appeared in the Khanewal district a couple of days back and now it has made its mark in Lahore.

After a few video clips highlighted by a local news channel on Monday showing stickers inscribed with ‘Ummah of Khilafat Mubarik’, police authorities came into action and got a case registered against unidentified people with the Nawab Town police.

Capital City Police Officer retired Captain Muhammad Amin Wains though confirmed some wall-checking exercise and placement of stickers in areas of Nawab Town, Hunjarwal and Thokar Niaz Baig Chowk, he did not officially acknowledge if it was the work of Daesh members.

Read: The IS threat

He told Dawn that police learnt about some wall-chalking on Muharram 5 and witnessed first time in the provincial capital some writings in favour of Daesh including ‘Daesh/IS zindabad’.

He said the Lahore police had received no such official acknowledgement about the presence of Daesh/IS elements from any government agency and there was a strong possibility that some locals might be involved in the activity.

A police source, who deals in counter-terrorism investigations, told this reporter that Daesh/IS officially got involved in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after its members had distributed pamphlets and a magazine in some parts of the province about a month ago, seeking membership from ordinary citizens.

The source said officials were working on the possibility of involvement of some people from the KP in carrying publicity material who joined the Tableeghi moot at Raiwind.

He said the Punjab police also got copies of the magazine for evolving a strategy to counter this international militants group in Punjab.

The source said the group was not officially found involved in its activities in Punjab, adding some wall-chalking and fixing of stickers might have been carried out by some local youths to befool law-enforcement agencies.

Published in Dawn, November 11th , 2014