TTP second-in-command rumoured dead

Qari Hussain Ahmed Mehsud was killed in a strike by US-operated drones early this month, unconfirmed reports said

ISLAMABAD: Qari Hussain Ahmed Mehsud, the second-in-command of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the master trainer of suicide bombers, was killed in a strike by US-operated drones early this month, unconfirmed reports said.

The Express Tribune’s sources in the Mirali sub-district of North Waziristan, however, said that Qari Hussain had narrowly escaped the October 2 attack that killed two of his bodyguards and eight German al Qaeda affiliates.

“He was injured but the injuries were minor and he has recovered now,” a member from Qari’s family said from Mirali, over the phone.

Reports in some national television channels cited unnamed intelligence sources to confirm the news. However, no one could confirm it to The Express Tribune, including sources from Qari’s family in the North Waziristan Agencies.

Similar reports about Qari and TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud were proved wrong last year, although both Pakistani and US intelligence officials were convinced that Hakimullah was dead.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2010.