Mullah Radio is new TTP chief

Mullah Fazlullah, a militant from Swat, has been elected as new chief of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a week after the killing of Hakeemullah Mehsud in a US drone attack.
Khalid Haqqani, a militant commander from Swabi District, was inducted as the TTP deputy chief.
“Fazlullah is the new TTP chief,” TTP caretaker leader Asmatullah Shaheen Bhitani said at a press conference at an undisclosed location in North Waziristan.
Since its inception in 2007, this is the first time the TTP has selected top leadership from settled districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier, its two leaders Baitullah Mehsud and Hakeemullah Mehsud belonged to South Waziristan. Both of them were killed in US drone attacks.
According to Bhitani, the decision was made in a 17-member shura (council) of the group. Consultation in this regard started soon after the killing of Hakeemullah Mehsud.
Earlier, Khan Said alias Sajna alias Khalid was named as successor to Mehsud. But his nomination was opposed by militant commanders, including Fazlullah, who is sheltering in Nooristan province of Afghanistan.
Fazlullah emerged as militant commander in 2005 when his brother was killed in a US drone attack in Bajaur. At that time, he had established an FM radio to propagate his extremist ideas. During this period, he established the Tehreek-e-Taliban and attacked the government installations, security forces and common people. Later, he signed agreements with the provincial government in 2008 and 2009, but a military action was launched against his group following failure of the pact. He later fled to Afghanistan from where he is engaged in attacks on government-loyal tribesmen, volunteers of peace lashkar and committees and workers of political parties. His men were also involved in attack on Malala Yousufzai last year. He is said to have the support of Afghan intelligence agency, the NTS.
Pakistan has placed Rs 5 million on his head and already pressed the Afghan government to hand him over. However, the Afghan government is silent in this regard.
Meanwhile, Asmatullah made it clear that there were no immediate chances for dialogue with the government. He said “The prime minister talks about peace in the country but supports drone attacks while talking to the US president in America. Under such circumstances it is hard for us to talk to the government for peace.”
He said they were determined to take revenge of Mehsud’s assassination, adding that this time no common people would be killed in mosques or bazaars. “But this time revenge will be taken in Punjab.”
Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s stand, Shaheen said, “Imran needs to show practicality. His claims and statements cannot be trusted.”