ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday rejected a claim made by Hakeemullah Mehsud that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud was still alive, calling for supporting evidence.

The minister told a press conference: ‘We have credible and substantial evidence that Baitullah Mehsud is dead. Hakeemullah Mehsud’s statement is insufficient … the onus is on the TTP to prove he is alive.’

He said: ‘All statements issued by Hakeemullah and Waliur Rehman are mere point-scoring … It is not my job to prove that Baitullah is dead … If Hakeemullah has met Baitullah he must provide the media a videotape of this meeting as proof.’
 
Mr Malik said: ‘The new TTP spokesman, Azam Tariq, has also confirmed Baitullah’s death after making contradictory statements … They (the TTP) first claimed that Baitullah was alive, then they said he was ill … Now they are saying he is critically injured … They may soon declare that he is dead.’
 
The minister said he had received information collected through different sources about Taliban infighting over succession and funds.

When asked if it was true that US intelligence agencies had shared with Pakistani counterparts footage of the drone attack in which Baitullah had reportedly been killed, Mr Malik said there was no truth in such media reports.

‘I will not confirm Baitullah’s death. However, government has credible information about his death.’
 
In reply to a question why security forces failed to capture or kill Fazlullah, the TTP leader in Swat, Mr Malik said the operation was launched against militants, and not against an individual. 

He said he was confident that Fazlullah would be captured soon. The minister said the law and order situation had normalised in Swat.