Turf war: TTP commander killed in Karachi

Deceased belonged to the TTP Hakeemullah Mehsud group.

KARACHI:

An alleged commander of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was killed on Friday in a clash with a rival group on the outskirts of Gulshan-e-Bunair area here.

The deceased, identified as Hatim Mehsud, was affiliated with the TTP’s Hakeemullah Mehsud group.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the SHO Idress Alam Bangash said Hatim Mehsud was killed during exchange of fire with the rival Waliur Rehman group. “The fighting erupted as part of a turf war,” he added.

Police said following the incident, a contingent of law enforcers including Rangers and police conducted the targeted operation in the area and detained around two dozen suspects. They also recovered a huge cache of arms including around 7.5 kg bomb, the police added.

Around half dozen operatives of the TTP’s Hakeemullah Mehsud group have so far been killed in a couple of months in the metropolis.

Mehsud’s group chief operational commander for Karachi, Sher Khan Mehsud was also among them who have been killed by the rival group, apparently backed by Waliur Rehman group of Taliban.

The residents claim that the TTP men are involved in the abduction and killing of the neutral residents if they suspect them to be police informers. “Intimidating the residents compel us to stand against TTP men,” a resident said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2013.