Pakistani Taliban sacks central spokesman

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has sacked its central spokesman, better known by the name of "Ehsanullah Ehsan", and appointed "Sheikh Maqbool" as his replacement.

In a written statement, signed by 10 TTP shura (council) members and issued on June 25, the TTP announced the removal of Ehsan as spokesman for the banned militant group.

According to the document, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the Taliban central council believes that the central spokesman had issued a statement which "may have caused rifts and misunderstandings between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban."

The letter, printed on TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud's 'letterhead', confirms Ehsan's removal as spokesman.

Though there is no mention of the new spokesman sources said that 'Sheikh Maqbool', which is also believed to be an assumed identity, would be the new spokesperson of the proscribed Pakistani Taliban.

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akram

Jul 09, 2013 08:09pm

Lo, there is no job security even for the Taliban!

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Irfan

Jul 09, 2013 08:41pm

Thanks for sharing this useful information Dawn. We at TTP owe you our gratitude for helping us communicate (this is mocking). How stupid. Are you the TTP spokes person Dawn?

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US Centcom

Jul 09, 2013 08:39pm

Their statements again confirm their common agenda against our forces on both sides of the border. Those who choose to side with conspiracy theories can see that we face a common threat in the region. The terrorists are working against our peace objectives on both sides of the border. It only makes sense for us to combine our forces against our common enemies. We

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irfan baloch

Jul 09, 2013 09:47pm

normally such "removal" is a shot in the head at point blank range hopefully that smug spokesman has met his end who used to mock us after every terrorist atrocity.

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Sonal

Jul 09, 2013 11:26pm

That's terrible. I wonder who will give him a job now?

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