By Aamir Latif
Asmatullah Shaheen, a top commander of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a combination of different Taliban branches in Pakistan, was killed along with his three aides in North Waziristan on Monday, Pakistani intelligence sources confirmed.
Shaheen, who headed the central Shura (consultative body) of The TTP after the death of the group’s chief, Hakeemullah Mehsud in a drone strike in North Waziristan on November 1, 2013, was on his way to the Dargah Mandi area when his car was sprayed with bullets by “unidentified assailants”, a senior military official told AA on the condition of anonymity.
“Shaheen and his three aides, including his driver, were killed on the spot as they received multiple bullet wounds," the official said.
The TTP has not confirmed the death of Shaheen, local channel Dunya TV confirmed his death with family sources.
Shaheen had served as acting chief of the TTP following the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud. He was the mastermind of several deadliest attacks on security forces.
He was one of TTP founder Baitullah Mehsud's most trusted lieutenants and one of Pakistan’s most wanted men, with a Rs 100,000,000 (US$100,000) bounty on his head.
There was no immediate comment from the TTP regarding Shaheen’s death.
Six Taliban militants were killed earlier this month in the same vicinity by unidentified attackers.
Intelligence sources claim that various Taliban groups are unhappy with the election of Maulvi Fazlullah as the network’s chief because he is not from the Mehsud tribe, founders of the TTP.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
