Fears of growing radicalisation in polarised Pakistan

Pakistani security agencies in the eastern city of Lahore claim to have arrested the alleged local leader of the Islamic State (IS), despite previous denials by the military of any IS encroachment into Pakistan.

As IS continues to recruit beyond Iraq and Syria, some view Pakistan as fertile ground for further radicalisation.

IS recruitment drives, propaganda and threats of new franchises and militant sleeper cells have served up growing pressure on mainstream religious parties in hugely polarised Pakistan.

Tired of pragmatism, their lower ranks seek an openly-declared Islamic state agenda. Heeding that call, Pakistan's oldest religious party, the Jamaat-e-Islami is launching a revivalist campaign.

"This campaign is against those who want to secularise Pakistan," said Main Aslam from the Jamaat-e-Islami. "They want to turn it into a promiscuous society where the sanctity of our mothers, sisters and daughters is violated. Pakistan has only been created to serve as an Islamic state and nothing else."

Influential clerics, including controversial ones with sizeable extremist followers, warn of consequences if their demands are not met. "These oppressive rulers have always been a hurdle in the implementation of Islamic law," said Red Mosque cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz. "The situation will only deteriorate if they prevent the implementation of Islamic law. The only solution is Islamic law and that would resolve all the issues in the country."

At least eight senior commanders of the Taliban in Pakistan, along with hundreds of their fighters have switched allegiances and joined IS. "Some people here are trying to use its name, but if you ask me whether Daish (Islamic State) exists in Pakistan - I will categorically say no," said government spokesman Siddiq ul Farooq.

Such denials by the government further polarise Pakistanis worried about the growing influence of IS.

Many prominent militancy experts in the country argue that the government is once again in a state of denial - a condition previously adopted by past governments about the Taliban until the militants took control of several parts of the country.

They say the government needs to take stock of the serious threat and act before the situation takes a dangerous turn, especially in the backdrop of the developments in Afghanistan.