The Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), a splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban of Pakistan (TTP) in Bajaur Agency, changed its name on Saturday to Jaish-e-Islami (JI), or “the army of Islam”.Talking to local journalists, JI chief Wali Rehman said the name was changed following a decision of their shura(council). He said the party’s aim was to “end un-Islamic activities” and implement Shariah throughout the agency. Rehman added that Abu Hamza had been appointed his deputy commander.
The split between the LI and the TTP occurred six months ago. The TTP claimed that it had recovered three kidnapped Sikhs from Orakzai Agency. The groupÂ’s purported spokesman Maulvi Omar told journalists by phone that one bandit had been killed and the ringleader captured.