Paulician Gnostics were branded as Jews, Mohammedans, Arians, and Manichean (Hanifian). It is possible that their opponents employed such "pejorative" appellations merely as terms of abuse. They called themselves "Believers".
It seems that these Paulicians represent the remnant of the Parthian Judeo-Gnostic Mullas who sought to escape the change of political climate in the Caliphate.