DERA ISMAIL KHAN: One member each from the Baitullah and Abdullah Mehsud groups — rival Taliban factions — were killed in a clash in Tank bazaar on Wednesday.
 
The dead militants were identified as Yusuf and Zahir Khan. A shopkeeper was injured in the fighting.

Baitullah Mehsud’s deputy and spokesman Wali Rehman said his network had killed Qari Zainuddin. He called newsmen and said that the TTP chief had ordered the killing of the defecting commander.

Qari Zainuddin, who was a vocal opponent of Baitullah’s actions in Pakistan, was shot dead by Gulbadin, one of his guards, at his residence on Tuesday.

‘We killed Qari Zainuddin because he was involved in activities against Taliban interests in the tribal belt. His killing had been necessitated because of his dubious activity,’ Wali Rehman said.
 
‘Anybody who is found to be involved in anti-Taliban activity will face the same fate.’

Qari Zain was laid to rest amid tight security provided jointly by police and his group’s fighters in Chah Syed Munawar graveyard in Dera Ismail Khan after the body was brought from Abbottabad.

Police cordoned off the entire area and roads were closed for traffic. His funeral prayers were held in Abbottabad, from where he had moved his family for safety.

Sources said his body was kept in the Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad, because of security reasons.

According to sources, the Abdullah Mehsud group was aided by supporters of the Turkistan group during the clash. Naeem, an Afghan national, was found dead near the Tank bazaar.