Islamabad, August 22: Pakistan Taliban have detained and are interrogating four close relatives of the group’s slain commander Baitullah Mehsud, on suspicion of tipping off authorities of his whereabouts.
Those being held include Baitullah’s father-in-law Ikramuddin Mehsud, his son, one of his brothers and a nephew, Dawn news reported quoting unnamed security and intelligence officials.
Pakistani and US officials have expressed certainty that Baitullah, head of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, was killed in direct missile hit on his father-in-law’s house, where he was hiding for the night on August 5.
But Baitullah’s close aides have denied his death, claiming that their leader was seriously injured and was in hiding. At the same time, the group today announced appointment of Baitullah’s cousin Hakimullah Mehsud as the new chief of the outfit.
–PTI