Unusual trend: Jundullah pledges support to IS

Police detain suspects for promoting the group in Lahore

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A splinter group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has pledged support to Islamic State (IS), a spokesman said on Monday. 

Jundullah announced its backing after meeting a three-man delegation representing IS led by al Zubair al Kuwaiti, the group’s spokesman Fahad Marwat told Reuters. Jundullah is one of several groups exploring relations with IS.

They share an aim to kill or drive out religious minorities and establish a hardline theocracy. Analysts say that so far IS has mainly attracted sectarian groups rather than anti-state militants like the Taliban.

“They (Islamic State) are our brothers, whatever plan they have we will support them,” said Marwat.

Separately, two suspects were taken into custody in Lahore for allegedly plastering messages supporting IS militant group across the city.

Messages supporting the IS militants were spotted in areas of Canal Road, Chuhng, Hunjarwal and Thokar Niaz Baig Chowk.

According to initial reports, the two men were caught on CCTV camera, identified through Nadra’s database and then arrested. Subsequently, a case has been registered against them in Nawab Town police station, where they are being questioned. Both men were spotted pasting stickers and banners supporting IS, which continues its drive to set up a self-declared caliphate.

Meanwhile, police in Peshawar have been directed to remove graffiti supporting IS in different parts of the city and register cases against those responsible for it.

A message reading ‘Welcome to IS’ was spray-painted onto a wall in the  jurisdiction of Hashtnagri police station, while similar pro-IS slogans were spotted in other parts of the city which have since been removed.

On Sunday, messages supporting IS were reported in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2014.