Maulvi Faqir Muhammad (photo: dawn.com)
On August 20, 2009, the Pakistani Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Mashriq reported that Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP, or the Movement of Pakistani Taliban) had a new acting emir, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad. The news followed reports earlier this month that the group's emir Baitullah Mehsud had been killed August 5, 2009 in a U.S. air strike.
To get breaking news from the region days before it is reported by other leading Western media sources, visit the MEMRI Urdu-Pashtu Media Project blog: http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu.
Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, New TTP Acting Emir: Baitullah Mehsud Ill, Not Killed
Roznama Mashriq reported that Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, the Emir of Taliban militants in Pakistan's tribal district of Bajaur Agency, claims to have taken over as acting emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
According to the newspaper, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad rejected reports that Baitullah Mehsud had been killed in the August 5 U.S. strike. He said that he had taken over as acting emir due to Baitullah Mehsud's illness.
Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, who has headed his own group of Taliban militants in Bajaur Agency along the Afghan border, had been deputy emir of the TTP since the network of Taliban organizations was established in 2007.
NWFP Taliban Spokesman Promoted to Central TTP Spokesman
Maulvi Faqir Muhammad announced that Muslim Khan, the spokesman of the Taliban in Swat district of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), has been appointed central TTP spokesman.
Khan's appointment follows the arrest several days ago of Taliban spokesman Maulvi Omar.
Baitullah Mehsud's Death Announced Under Pressure by Pakistani Security Forces
Maulvi Faqir Muhammad said that Pakistani security forces had pressured Maulvi Omar to state that Baitullah Mehsud had died in the U.S. strike.
Baitullah Mehsud Deputies Not Authorized to Choose New Emir
Asked about reports that Baitullah Mehsud's deputies Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rahman had died in a succession fight, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad said that the two commanders did not have the authority to choose the emir, and that only the 42-member Shura (executive council) could nominate a new Emir of the Taliban in Pakistan.
