Hakimullah death a rumour,claim Taliban

Tariq’s statement came hours after media reports quoted Taliban sources in the Aurakzai tribal region as saying that the 28-year-old Mehsud,who was severely injured in a drone attack in North Waziristan on January 14,had died. The sources claimed Mehsud died recently near Multan city in Punjab province while being taken to Karachi for treatment. His body was taken back to the tribal belt.

The Taliban sources also said commander Noor Jamal alias Maulana Toofan had been named as the new chief of the outfit. Reacting to this,Tariq said there was no truth in the news.

A Taliban commander in North Waziristan too denied reports about Mehsud’s death,claiming he had met the Taliban chief two days ago at a location he refused to specify. The commander,who did not want to be named,said Mehsud was “safe and sound” and had not been injured in the drone attack.

There were reports earlier that Mehsud had died almost two weeks ago and was buried in his father-in-law’s village in Aurakzai Agency but Tariq has been insisting that Mehsud is alive. Shortly after reports of Mehsud’s death first emerged,the Taliban issued two audio messages in which the dreaded commander claimed he was alive.