June 24, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 19, 1429

LANDI KOTAL, June 23: The Bara-based militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam has apologised for kidnapping of Christians from Peshawar on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference at Bara Press Club on Monday, a Lashkar spokesperson, Abdul Karim, termed the kidnapping incident a result of a misunderstanding.

He said that hundreds of Hindu and Sikh families had been residing in Khyber Agency since long and were never stopped from observing their religious rites by the Lashkar-i-Islam or any other religious organisation. He said that his organisation is providing full protection to minorities living in the Khyber Agency.

Abdul Karim regretted that the kidnapping of Christians from Peshawar was result of a misinformation by some of their activists. He also said that the abduction was carried out without the approval of Lashkar amir Mangal Bagh and said that those responsible for the incident would be taken to task.