DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A militant factional leader opposed to the Tehrik-i-Taliban chief, Baitullah Mehsud was killed by one of his bodyguards here on Tuesday.

Qari Zainuddin’s group immediately blamed the TTP chief for orchestrating his murder and immediately appointed his brother as the new factional chief to continue their struggle against Baitullah Mehsud.

One of Zainuddin’s bodyguards, who was also injured in the shootout, Baz Mohammad told Dawn that Baitullah Mehsud had sent one of his men, whom he identified as Gulbaddin Mehsud, to infiltrate the group and kill their leader.

‘Gulbadin took advantage of the general clemency by Zainuddin to join the group and kill Zainuddin,’ Baz Muhammad said.

He said that Gulbadin entered the Hujra (male compound) after morning prayers and opened indiscriminate fire when they were asleep, killing Zainuddin on the spot. A doctor at the District Headquarters Hospital pronounced Zainuddin dead. His body was later taken to Abbottabad where his brother collected the coffin for funeral.

It is understood that Zainuddin’s family had left their native South Waziristan and moved to Abbottabad to escape the wrath of TTP chief.

The group filed a report with Cantonment Police Station in Dera Ismail Khan, accusing Gulbadin of killing Zainuddin at the behest of Baitullah Mehsud.

The TTP spokesman was not available for comment.

Gulbadin, who belonged to Makeen area of South Wazristan, managed to escape in a car, waiting for him outside the compound, witnesses said.

The Dera police rushed to his residence in Madena Colony and cordoned off the area. Search operation was launched for arrest of the killer.

The Cantt police lodged an FIR against Gulbaddin, Baitullah and his associates under section 302/324/120-B/7ATA/10PPC on the report of injured Baz Mohammad son of Faiz Mohammad hailing from Balochistan province.

Misbah Uddin Mesud alias Toofan Mehsud, younger brother of Zain, has been appointed asthe newsuccessor soon after an emergent meeting of the Shura of Abdullah group.

Sources said Qari Zain was residing in Dera Ismail Khan for the last six months and was considered to be a strong opponent of Baithullah Mehsud’s network.

Qari Zainuddin, who had recently spoken out against Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud’s actions on Pakistan soil, had said that his thousands of strong armed men would remain neutral during any government offensive against Baitullah network.

Baitullah Mehsud was skeptical about Qari Zain’s alleged pro-government statements and termed his anti-TTP tirade as ‘deviation from Abdullah Mehsud mission.’

Abdullah Mehsud, a former Guantanamo prisoner, who had launched his own group after falling out with Baitullah Mehsud, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Zhob, Balochistan in July, 2006.

The group had blamed the TTP amer for orchestrating his murder. Abdullah Mehsud’s successor, Qari Saifullah too, was killed later and the leadership passed on to the young Zainuddin, who was hounded by Baitullah and had to eventually take shelter with an anti TTP group in Shakai in South Waziristan before moving to Dera Ismail Khan, some say, with government patronage.

Significantly, another anti-TTP militant commander, Haji Namdar, was killed in a similar fashion by one of his own bodyguards in Bara, Khyber Agemcy, in August, 2008. The assassin later admitted to having been trained and sent by the TTP chief to kill Namdar.

Zain belonged to Barund area of tehsil Sarokai, South Waziristan and split from TTP some nine months ago.

Apparently it would be a great setback to government’s bid to dislodge the Baitullah network. However, injured Baz Mohmmad told Dawn that the slaying of Zain would further strengthen their resolve to wage war against Baitullah. He claimed over seven thousand armed fighters of his group and tribal people would stand up against Baitullah and his associates to rid the region of their atrocities.