Islamabad, August 22: As authorities here asserted that the militants on the country’s soil were in disarray, Pakistani Taliban today announced Hakimullah Mehsud as their new chief, days after reports claimed that he was killed in a duel with a rival claimant.
The announcement of new Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief, who led a campaign to impose the ‘jiziya’ tax on the minority Sikh community, was made by militant commander Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, who just days back had appointed himself as the successor to Baitullah Mehsud.
Though the Taliban declared appointment of a new chief, they stuck to their claim that Baitullah was still alive, but was “seriously ill and hiding”.
Maulvi Faqir said a 42-member ‘shura’ or supreme council selected Hakimullah as the new leader during a meeting held in South Waziristan tribal region.
–PTI