Pro-govt Taliban commander accuses Tank administration of helping Mehsud

Islamabad, July 15 (ANI): A pro-government Taliban leader, Turkistan Bhittani, has accused the local administration of helping the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud establish his command in the North West Frontier Province's Tank District.

Addressing a press conference, Bhittani, whom the government has been projecting as the leader of so-called 'good Taliban', claimed that the Tank administration is helping Mehsud gain a foothold in the region.

"The administration is helping the Baitullah group to hold public meetings in the Mulazai area," said Bhittani .

"Baitullah Mehsud is once again provided an opportunity to return to Tank," he added.

Bhittani warned that if the Baitullah group did not free his supporter Ali Gul then he would not be responsible for the consequences.

Earlier, the government had asked Bhittani to close his offices and take his followers out of the region.

Residents of the district complained that Bhittani had virtually set-up a parallel government in the region, The Dawn reports.

Check-points have been set-up by Bhittani's men at important locations in the district.

Bhittani's followers had even started snatching vehicles and other valuables of local people. (ANI)