Peshawar: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Monday rejected any rift among their ranks and said that there is no plan to replace Hakimullah Mehsud with Waliur Rehman as new chief of the banned organisation.
Talking to media, the Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan rebuffed the media reports and said that the outlawed organization held the main shura meeting two weeks back in North Waziristan Agency and all the 42 members or their representatives attended the meeting chaired by Hakimullah Mehsud.
“Waliur Rehman and all the other top leadership from Mohmand, Bajaur, Dara Adamkhel and the rest of Pakistan had attended the meeting and reposed confidence in Hakimullah Mehsud besides discussing organisational affairs of the TTP.”
However the TTP spokesman acknowledged that only Mualana Fazlullah, Taliban chief of Malakand was absent from the meeting and that he had sent his representative to attend the shura meeting in his place as he is not allowed to travel due to security concerns.
It is to be mentioned here that Long War Journal also poked at Reuters’ report of rifts among TTP ranks and Wali replacing Hakimullah, saying that the only source of report was Pakistan Army officials who are rivals of the Taliban and it was an attempt from army to create differences among the Taliban leadership.
The Journal report also rejected Reuters’ claim that Hakimullah has lost operational control of the movement and the trust of his fighters saying that in a recent video released by Pakistani Taliban on Bannu jailbreak, Hakimullah was clearly seen along with Wali giving directions to the militants.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription