ISLAMABAD
Maulvi Fazlullah, a top commander of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been chosen as new leader of the Pakistani Taliban.
"The Taliban Shura [consultative council] has named Maulvi Fazlullah as new chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan with consensus and in consultation with all top commanders," TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told Anadolu Agency by phone from an undisclosed location.
He said the decision had been taken at a meeting of the group's consultative body, held simultaneously in both North Waziristan and the Afghan province of Nuristan.
Shahid asserted that all top commanders in different parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan were consulted by the Shura members before reaching a consensus decision on Maulvi Fazlullah.
"Reports of a rift among Shura members regarding the appointment of new TTP ameer (leader) are baseless and devoid of truth," he said.
Shahid noted that the Shura had considered two other commanders, Khan Syed, alias Khalid Sajna, and Hafiz Saeed Khan, for the key slot.
“All the (Shura) members freely expressed their views regarding the appointment of the new ameer and after that they reached a consensus to name Maulvi Fazlullah as new ameer," he explained.
Fazlullah is currently holed up in northeastern Afghanistan and carries a bounty of some $50,000 dollars.
Shahid added that Khalid Haqqani, another top TTP commander, had been named deputy chief of the TTP, an umbrella of different Taliban groups operating in Pakistan.
TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud and two senior lieutenants were killed last week in a US drone strike in North Waziristan province.
By Aamir Latif - Anadolu Agency
englishnews@aa.com.tr
