PESHAWAR, April 28: The tug-of-war between Iran and Saudi Arabia is no more confined to Bahrain, as it has now reached thousands miles away to two volatile districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where wall-chalking against the two countries by their sympathisers is raising alarms.

Residents said that a sectarian group, which supported Iran, had carried out extensive wall-chalking along the main highway against the royal family of Saudi Arabia in Kohat and Hangu districts.

The wall-chalking also highlights use of force against protesters in Bahrain and criticises Saudi Arabia and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council for sending troops for security of the monarch.

The administration in the two districts has started removing objectionable slogans. Witnesses said that district government had engaged workers for removing slogans against Saudis.

A resident in Hangu said that wall-chalking had created tension in the town, which had witnessed the worst sectarian violence in the past.

On the other hand Ahle Sunat Wal Jamaat, a rival sectarian faction, has announced to organise ‘Tehafuz-i-Hurumain’ rallies across the province on Friday in support of the royal family of Saudi Arabia and to condemn wall-chalking in different areas of the province.

A statement issued here said that some elements were trying to sever brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. It said that Saudi Arabia was a time-tested friend of Pakistan and spiritual centre of Muslims across the world.

“The US agents and devilish forces are opposing brotherly relations between the two Muslim countries by carrying out wall-chalking against the royal family,” the statement said, demanding of the government to take strict action against such elements.

The organisation will take out a protest rally from a mosque in Pipal Mandi Peshawar after Friday prayer. It has invited all political and religious parties to take part in the rally.