A Taliban spokesman in Pakistan has denied media reports that leading tribal militant Baitullah Mehsud has died of an illness and termed it as government propaganda.
“He is fit and well,” the spokesman, Maulvi Umar, said over phone. “This is government propaganda meant to weaken the organisation,” he added. Pakistani media on Tuesday night reported that Mehsud had died of kidney failure.
The tribal militant leads one of the most lethal group called Tehrike Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is an alliance of pro-Taliban splinter factions. Mehsud is accused of masterminding the killing of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. However, he had denied his involvement in the attack.
Meanwhile, rumours of his death have also been denied by his doctor Eisa Khan. “I spoke to him today at 9 am over the phone. He told me that he was surprised by the rumours of his death,” The AP quoted Eisa Khan.
Several other Pakistani Taliban spokesmen also insisted that Mehsud is healthy, with some even saying that he is due to marry the second time this weekend. However, Pakistani officials said Mehsud is believed to be seriously ill.
