WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Tuesday designated Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah as a ‘global terrorist’.
According to a State Department press release, Fazlullah has been labeled a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.
The consequences of these designations include a prohibition against American citizens engaging in transactions with Fazlullah, and the freezing of all property and interests of Fazlullah that are in the United States, or come within the United States or the possession or control of US persons, the statement said.
Fazlullah was elected TTP commander in November 2013, following the death of former leader Hakimullah Mehsud.
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Under the leadership of Fazlullah, TTP claimed responsibility for the December 16, 2014 attack on a school in Peshawar that resulted in the deaths of at least 148 people, mostly students.
Prior to becoming TTP leader, Fazlullah claimed he was behind the killing of Pakistani Army Major General Sanaullah Niazi in September 2013, as well as ordering the shooting of schoolgirl and activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012.
The State Department designated TTP as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on September 1, 2010.
TTP was also listed at the United Nations 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee on July 29, 2011.
