KHAR, Aug 19: Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, a senior leader of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, claimed on Wednesday to have taken over the leadership of the militant organisation on a ‘temporary basis’.

He told the BBC Urdu Service he was now acting chief of the TTP, replacing Baitullah Mehsud for ‘short time’ because he was ‘sick’.

Meanwhile, in a speech on his FM radio Maulvi Faqir accused the peace committee of Mohmand Agency of violating a ‘peace accord’ between militants and tribal elders by capturing TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar. He warned that the TTP would avenge Umar’s capture.

“The Taliban will take action against those members of the peace committee who captured our spokesman,” he said.

Maulvi Omar, he claimed, was functioning as a journalist and his arrest would not affect the movement. He, however, said that despite the ‘violation’, the agreement would remain in force.

A local lashkar captured Umar in Mohmand tribal region on Monday night and handed him over to security forces.

Maulvi Faqir told the BBC that Muslim Khan had been appointed TTP’s spokesman in place of Maulvi Omar. Muslim Khan is the spokesman of the Taliban in Swat.

Maulvi Faqir said that Baitullah was ‘alive but sick’. He has gone underground. “But even if Baitullah is killed it will not affect the Taliban movement,” he said.

About the reported dispute over succession, he said neither Mufti Wali Rehman nor Hakeemullah Mehsud had the authority to declare anyone as Baitullah’s successor.
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