ISLAMABAD: The government has received reports that shooting broke out between two top commanders of Baitullah Mehsud at the Taliban Shura meeting, and one of them may have been killed, the interior minister said on Saturday.“The infighting was between Waliur Rehman and Hakimullah Mehsud,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Reuters. “We have information that one of them has been killed. Who was killed we will be able to say later after confirming.“According to reports Waliur Rehman fired and killed Hakimullah Mehsud,” the official said.The state-run television said there were reports that both leaders might have been killed in a shootout.The Taliban Shura was called in the Taliban-controlled territory in Waziristan.“We have reports that there was fighting between Waliur Rehman and Hakimullah... I said earlier that one of them is dead. I will not disclose the name. I am seeking verification,” Malik told Geo News.“We have solid reports about the killing of Baitullah Mehsud but the situation will be clear in the next 48 hours,” Malik told Geo television.Our correspondents add from Peshawar/Wana: Senior officials also claimed that two top commanders of Baitullah had killed each other in a bid to grab the top TTP slot. However, Taliban militants considered close to Baitullah Mehsud and his network continued denying his death and the clash between his top militant commanders in South Waziristan.A senior government official, who is based in Peshawar and handles the affairs of the Fata, said they had heard reports about an armed clash between the two top militant commanders of Baitullah Mehsud — Mufti Waliur Rahman and Hakimullah Mehsud — in South Waziristan over the replacement of their slain leader.Pleading anonymity, the official said they had received reports that Hakimullah Mehsud had been killed while Mufti Waliur Rahman sustained injuries in an exchange of fire between the followers of the two commanders.Interestingly, the official, who wished not to be named, said he would not personally confirm any such clash between the militant groups and casualty of Hakimullah Mehsud. “Honestly speaking, there is no confirmation of these rumours,” the official remarked.He quoted tribal informers as saying that a council meeting of the TTP South Waziristan chapter was in progress for choosing Baitullah’s replacement when the Taliban commanders exchanged harsh words and opened fire at each other.The government official said preliminary reports suggested that Hakimullah Mehsud had been killed while Waliur Rahman seriously injured in the exchange of fire by supporters of the two militant commanders.However, militants close to Baitullah Mehsud denied all such reports.A senior TTP commander in Orakzai Agency told The News that neither the reports about Baitullah Mehsud’s death were true nor any such clash between his commanders had ever taken place.“All what is appearing on the media is hundred per cent false. I do not know what has happened to the media and journalists. They should at least verify such sensitive news before it is on air on TV channels and printing in newspapers,” the Taliban commander, who seemed to be upset with the media, explained.He claimed that he had spoken to Hakimullah Mehsud at around 5 pm on Saturday, and he did not say anything about the clash. Also, the Taliban commander claimed there was no truth in reports about their Shura meeting in South Waziristan.He said Baitullah Mehsud was ill and it was difficult for him to travel to various tribal regions and keep contacts with the TTP commanders and, therefore, had already nominated Mufti Waliur Rahman as his successor. He said the 45-year-old Mufti represented Baitullah in various meetings held with the government in the past. The Taliban commander felt that the creation of such controversial reports about the Taliban was a conspiracy of the government to pave the way for a military operation in South Waziristan.On the other hand, sources close to Mufti Waliur Rahman claimed that he was invited to a tea party in Deela village, Srarogha Tehsil, of South Waziristan at around 6 pm in the evening, where he even denied Baitullah Mehsud’s death.The 30-year-old Hakimullah Mehsud is one of Baitullah’s trustworthy commanders and was nominated the commander of three important tribal regions — Kurram, Orakzai and Khyber — to strengthen the TTP there.In the past, Hakimullah served as Baitullah’s spokesman with codename Zulfiqar Mehsud.
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