Mullah Fazlullah’s selection as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief has caused rifts among the TTP ranks.
In a bid to overcome such rifts, Fazlullah alias Mullah Radio had replaced close aides of slain TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud with his own men. As a result of such steps, militants from Mehsud and Bhittani tribe are being cornered. Mullah Radio fears serious threats to his life.
Sources told Pakistan Today that Mullah Fazlullah has announced to establish his headquarters in Dir. This decision could add to the woes of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. Dir is the hometown of Mullah Radio’s father-in-law Sufi Muhammad, head of the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e- Muhammadi (TNSM).
According to sources, Asmatullah Bhittani, also known as Asmatullah Shaheen, has been replaced by Khalid Haqqani as Shura head. Whereas Said Khan Sajna, successor of Waliur Rahman was replaced by Sheheryar Mehsud. Sheheryar is said to be an archrival of both Waliur Rahman and Hakimullah Mehsud.
Sources said Fazlullah had told militants that both appointments were temporary and were likely to be reviewed in the shura meeting shortly.
Shaheen was a close aide of Abdullah Mehsud who was killed in a military action in Zhob Baluchistan couple of years back.
The militants unhappy with the selection of Fazlullah as new TTP chief are reaching the armed forces and its secret agencies.
Asmat Ullah Muavia, chief of the Punjabi Taliban, is in understanding with security forces. The Punjabi Taliban militants are sharing their domain with government-loyal militants like Hafiz Gul Bahadar in North Waziristan and Mullah Nazir in South Waziristan.
It is believed that Adnan Rashid has developed differences with militants loyal to Hakimullah Mehsud as he is said to be a close aide of Fazlullah.
The militants from the Mehsud tribe believe that the Haqqani network was behind the drone strike which killed Hakimullah Mehsud.
Differences have also developed between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban soon after Mullah Radio’s induction as the TTP chief.
