PESHAWAR: A splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been further split into two groups in an apparent blow to militants.

A video statement on Sunday said the Hizbul Ahrar group, formed in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan a day earlier, would be headed by the militant leader Mukarram Khan. Khan had earlier fought and served as spokesman for the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) group.

The statement said Khan left JuA over differences with its chief over attacks against innocent minority Christians, killing civilians, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and other acts he deemed un-Islamic.

JuA was formed in 2014 by Umar Khalid Khurasani when it split from the TTP.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2017