MIRANSHAH: Unknown gunmen opened fire on a vehicle in Ghulam Khan Tehsil of the North Waziristan tribal area on Monday, killing at least four persons including the former leader of outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) central shura Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani.
However, the TTP has not so far confirmed his killing.
The sources, the incident of firing took place near Darga Mandi area of Ghulam Khan Tehsil, adding that the attackers fled from the scene while panic gripped the area after the incident.
Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani
Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani, hails from the Khichi sub-tribe of Bhittani in South Waziristan, served as the acting TTP chief after Hakeemullah Mehsud’s death and also headed the Taliban supreme shura.
In late January, unconfirmed reports said that he was killed during air strikes on militant sanctuaries in North Waziristan.
Asmatullah was known for his ruthless predisposition towards those taken prisoners by the TTP. He was one of the top deputies of Baitullah Mehsud and previously fought with the force of Haji Turkestan (a pro-government leader) multiple times.
Considered a potential successor to Baitullah, Asmatullah wasn’t allowed to ascend the leadership mantle, as he hailed from a different tribe.
Asmatullah was considered as the lead figure of an attack on the Frontier Corps – Mullazai Fort in Tank, South Waziristan. In Dec 2011, his militants with highly sophisticated weaponry overran the military bastion, killed an officer and kidnapped 23 other soldiers. Although seven soldiers managed to escape from the militants’ custody, the rest of the abductees were brutally tortured and murdered. The horrifically mutilated bodies – with 40 bullet holes each and signs of torture – were recovered from North Waziristan subsequently.
