New Taliban Chief In Pakistan Is Hakeemullah Mehsud

PESHAWAR,PAKISTAN: Hakeemullah Mehsud has been Saturday declared to be the successor of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud.

Talking to a British news agency by phone, TTP Acting Amir Maulvi Faqir denied the reports of Baitullah’s killing, saying Baitullah Mehsud is alive and wanted to appoint an amir in his lifespan.

The TTP acting Amir said 42-strong council of Taliban appointed Hakeemullah their chief in lieu of Baitullah and Azam Tariq as the new central spokesman of the militant outfit.

He told that TTP Council had a meeting in Orakzai Agency, attended by Taliban and militants from Bandu Basti areas.

Faqir said Haji Muslim Khan was designated as Acting spokesman after the Maulvi Omar was detained; however, as there was no phone in the area, Azam Tariq will function as the new central spokesman of Taliban.