Pakistani Taliban splits; new faction by the name of 'TTP Jamatul Ahrar' comes into existence

PESHAWAR: Pakistani Taliban today suffered a major split as leading commanders of the banned outfit formed a splinter group, accusing its leadership of promoting personal and narrow objectives.

Leaders of the new faction 'TTP Jamatul Ahrar' said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan leadership was promoting personal and narrow objectives, resulting in lack of coordination and the outfit's defeat.

The new faction's chief Maulana Qasim Khurasani, in a video conference from undisclosed location, said that their organisation would work on the pattern of Islamic State of Afghanistan and will not take sides in the current political tussle as they only want the Shariah system to prevail in the country.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ( PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek ( PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri are no different from the current political rulers and both of them are inclined towards the "western style of democracy."