TTP infighting led to beheading of Polish engineer

[LahoreEstate]

Thursday, February 12, 2009
By Mazhar Tufail

ISLAMABAD: Differences between the head of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TPP) and Qari Hussain, another militant commander, led to the beheading of the captive Polish engineer, The News learnt through a source on Wednesday.

TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud wanted his men to be released in return for the engineer but Qari Hussain put another list of prisoners, including four important Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members and an Uzbek, the source revealed to this correspondent during a visit to Tank.

The source, who did not want to be identified, claimed this quoting some Taliban who were present on the occasion of beheading the Polish captive.Tank is an opening to South Waziristan, which touches Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan.

The town is some 321 kilometres from Peshawar and about 64 kilometres from Dera Ismail Khan. Most of the Waziris shift to Tank during winter and this is the main reason behind the influence of the Taliban in the town.

Peter Stanczak, the Polish engineer, was abducted from Attock district on September 28 last year by the Taliban belonging to Darra Adamkhel. During the abduction, two drivers and a gunman were killed on the spot. Later, the Polish engineer was killed by his captors after negotiations with the government for his release collapsed.

Muhammad, a spokesperson for TTP’s Darra Adamkhel chapter, claimed responsibility for the beheading. The source quoted Zakir Mehsud (probably a code name) as saying: “Qari Hussain was interested in getting some important Jhangvi members and an Uzbek militant released in return for the captive engineer but the head of the TTP wanted that the Polish should be handed over to him so that he could negotiate with the government for his own captured Taliban militants. This forced Qari to behead the Polish engineer.”

The source further said: “A day before the beheading of the engineer, Baitullah sent his men to bring the captive but the Qari group did not agree and beheaded the captive the next day.” About the beheading, the source quoted Zakir as saying: “Our commander made a good decision by beheading the Polish engineer, as it would create fear amongst the nonbelievers. If we keep on sending such gifts to the Europeans and others, they would soon be compelled to flee the region.”

Hakimullah Mehsud, a close aide of Qari Hussain, wanted a teenager to butcher the Polish engineer but time did not allow it, the source further quoted Zakir as saying. “If God wishes, people would see more and more beheadings of nonbelievers in the future.”

Hakimullah Mehsud, in his early 30s, is considered a ruthless commander who is an expert in beheading the ‘enemies’. He is also known as the mobile Taliban commander, as he keeps on moving from one area to other.

He was TTP’s deputy leader before he was replaced by Faqir Muhammad from Bajaur Agency. He has good ties with the Taliban of Darra Adamkhel and it was the reason that the abducted engineer was handed over to the Qari Hussain group.

Qari Hussain is the trainer and sponsor of suicide bombers. He was also involved in the kidnapping of 260 security personnel. He is affiliated with the banned sectarian group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and it is obvious as to why he demanded the release of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militants instead of Mahsud’s Taliban. “The beheading of the Polish engineer by the Qari group will further deepen the already existing differences between the TTP and Qari Hussain,” the source commented.

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