<p> The Pakistani security forces believe that new Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is already dead and the terrorist group is using his “look-alike brother” for media interviews to give an impression that he is alive, media reports claimed here on Wednesday.<br /><br />The Pakistani Taliban is following the tactics to save their image and curb infighting in the group, the reports cited security sources as saying.<br />The Taliban declared Hakimullah as their new leader after their chief Baitullah Mehsud, also a brother to Hakimullah, died in a US missile strike in the troubled South Waziristan tribal region on August 5. After his death, there were reports of a succession war within the Taliban with Interior Minister Rehman Malik suggesting that Hakimullah has died in an armed clash with another possible successor Wali-ur Rehman. Both Hakimullah and Rehman later spoke to BBC and denied reports of infighting.<br /><br />A “look-alike brother” of Hakimullah actually gave the interview to BBC some days ago posing as the Taliban commander, the media said citing sources.<br />Hakimullah was specially summoned from Afghanistan to head the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on a temporary basis while the decision to appoint the new chief will be taken by Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar.<br /><br />Pak minister injured<br />Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, a vocal critic of the Taliban, was on Wednesday injured in a brazen assassination attempt when gunmen opened fire at his car in the heart of Islamabad, killing his driver and wounding a bodyguard.<br />Two motorcycle-borne gunmen attacked Kazmi’s car with automatic weapons as he was leaving his office in the religious affairs ministry near the busy Melody Market in Islamabad shortly after 3 pm, witnesses and police officials said.<br />The brazen attack occurred a short distance from a large police station though witnesses claimed policemen did not react as the gunmen fired a volley of bullets into the car.<br />The assault was apparently well-coordinated as the gunmen killed the driver by shooting him in the head before firing at the minister. <br /></p>
<p> The Pakistani security forces believe that new Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is already dead and the terrorist group is using his “look-alike brother” for media interviews to give an impression that he is alive, media reports claimed here on Wednesday.<br /><br />The Pakistani Taliban is following the tactics to save their image and curb infighting in the group, the reports cited security sources as saying.<br />The Taliban declared Hakimullah as their new leader after their chief Baitullah Mehsud, also a brother to Hakimullah, died in a US missile strike in the troubled South Waziristan tribal region on August 5. After his death, there were reports of a succession war within the Taliban with Interior Minister Rehman Malik suggesting that Hakimullah has died in an armed clash with another possible successor Wali-ur Rehman. Both Hakimullah and Rehman later spoke to BBC and denied reports of infighting.<br /><br />A “look-alike brother” of Hakimullah actually gave the interview to BBC some days ago posing as the Taliban commander, the media said citing sources.<br />Hakimullah was specially summoned from Afghanistan to head the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on a temporary basis while the decision to appoint the new chief will be taken by Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar.<br /><br />Pak minister injured<br />Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, a vocal critic of the Taliban, was on Wednesday injured in a brazen assassination attempt when gunmen opened fire at his car in the heart of Islamabad, killing his driver and wounding a bodyguard.<br />Two motorcycle-borne gunmen attacked Kazmi’s car with automatic weapons as he was leaving his office in the religious affairs ministry near the busy Melody Market in Islamabad shortly after 3 pm, witnesses and police officials said.<br />The brazen attack occurred a short distance from a large police station though witnesses claimed policemen did not react as the gunmen fired a volley of bullets into the car.<br />The assault was apparently well-coordinated as the gunmen killed the driver by shooting him in the head before firing at the minister. <br /></p>
