Peshawar: Militants of Mangal Bagh’s Lashkar-e-Islami (The Army of Islam) freed 16 Christians, the fate of the remaining 9 is yet not known.
Sources said that the 16 Chrisitans have beeb handed over to Political Administration of Khyber Agency Sunday Morning.
The militants had kidnapped 25 Christians from Academy Town, Peshawar, Saturday evening, the first incident of its kind in the history of Pakistan.
Provincial Education Minister Mian Iftekhar confirmed that the Christians have been abducted from a ceremony and are shifted to some unknown place.
Provincial Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has ordered all relevant authorities to get the Christians free as soon as possible.
Christian community in Peshawar was threatened last year either to convert to Islam or leave the city. Some believe that the extremists are involved in these activities.
There was a clash between Lashkar-e-Islam and its rival Ansarul Islam which ended after the killing of 23 persons, confirmed officials.
Meanwhile, Rehman A Malik, advisor to Interior Minister and the provincial government admitted that the Taliban militants have increased their unwanted activities in Peshawar and the adjacent areas.
The Taliban have entered the city in thousands and it is likely that Peshawar falls into their hands, say informed sources. The provincial government has signed many peace deals with them which, according to analysts, have provided protection to the militants.
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