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Islamabad: Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) which renamed itself as Khuddam-ul-Islam (KuI) has split with a faction of the outfit rejecting the leadership of Masood Azhar, one of the three militants released in exchange for hostages of an Indian Airline Plane in 1999.

According to Pakistani weekly "The Friday Times", the JeI split after Masood Azhar expelled 12 leaders including outfit's Karachi-based Ameer Abdullah Shah Mazhar.

Masood Azhar informed the Punjab government about his decision about two weeks ago, which led to a serious conflict between the two groups and was followed by occupying of prestigious Masjid-e-Bataha in Karachi by the rival group of Azhar.

"Masood Azhar was made the chief of JeI by religious scholars who later deprived him of that position," Mazhar told the weekly and claimed that the religious scholars did not want him to continue as the head now.

"Maulana Umer Farooq who is heading militant activities in Kashmir now is our Ameer and I am the secretary-general... Masood Azhar has nothing to do with the organisation," he said.

The breakaway leader said their "main difference with Masood Azhar is that he deviated from the cause of Jihad...our party was created for doing Jihad and we are not ready to compromise on that."

Quoting sources, the weekly said that the home department of Punjab government was going to take action against the breakaway group by arresting its senior leaders.

The two groups were, meanwhile, clashing with each other to gain control over the assets of the outfit.

PTI