Chief Mullah Fazlullah with TTP (image, Express Tribune)

Three additional jihadi groups have now joined the ranks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) according to a recent press release by spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani on 5th May 2015. They are as follows:-

1. Commander Qari Mati ur Rehman alias Commander Abdus Samad’s party.

2. Commander Qari Ehsan ul Haq alias Qari Ehsan’s party.

3. Commander Muhammad Tamil alias Shikari’s party.

Khorasani states that, “all these parties are under the leadership of respected Commander Mati ur Rehman Hafiza ullah and becoming one have joined Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.” More detailed analysis of this merger can be found on the following link from Long War Journal,

“3 jihadists groups merge with movement of the Taliban in Pakistan”

3 jihadist groups merge with Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan

Sufi Muhammad alleged to be critical of TTP in his will following Peshawar army school attack (image Express Tribune) 

In recent times according to Pakistan media, TTP have allegedly come under heavy criticism from Sufi Muhammad, Chief of the banned Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) following their attack on Peshawar Army School on the 16th December 2014. Muhammad is the father-in-law of Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah and currently imprisoned following an anti-government speech he gave at the Timergara Rest House, in Lower Dir district, in 2009 where he stated that the democratically elected government were ‘un-Islamic’.

Express News states that in a will written 4 days after the Peshawar school incident, Muhammad was said to have “issued special instructions to his followers and relatives to boycott all relations with the TTP” claiming they had “damaged Islam more than the infidels”. He alleged TTP “lacked basic Islamic and humanistic values” and their activities “were against Islam and Sharia”. However one question to be asked is whether the comments in the will were written freely or under pressure whilst in jail as Pakistan has a poor human rights record including torture and killing of those in custody. If the comments are correct it will likely be a psychological blow to TTP.

The imprisonment of Sufi Muhammad referred to by the Guardian in 2009 as the political “Godfather of the Swat Taliban” was mentioned in a video release from Senior TTP Commander Adnan Rasheed (December 2014) entitled “Repent, Revise and Revolt where he addressed Pakistan’s Armed Forces,

“Sufi Muhammad is still behind the bars and Abdul Rashid under the earth. All credit goes to you. I know how your commanders drive you. They drive you in the name of Islam. They turn this civil war against Islam as jihad to you. They label you as a true mujahid instead of mercenary. They call you shaheed (martyr) when you are being killed fighting for kuffars. Do their claims and terms really satisfy you?”

Army and police, VIPs at increased security risk due to development of new TTP anti-jammer device

TTP continue to target police and army vehicles and a statement on 28th April 2015 must have sent a chill though security agencies. TTP engineering unit are said to have developed an anti-jammer device which was used by STF special group of TTP to attack a convoy of security forces where one vehicle was completely destroyed and passengers were killed.

A source who recently moved from the UK to his home country of Pakistan to work stated,

“when the convoys move, even in cities they have vehicles with jamming devices on top traveling front and behind the main vehicles. These devices jam all mobile and remote signals around the convoy. It is very significant. Because now all VIP movement in cities are vulnerable. This means that civilians traveling in nearby lanes or nearby are also at risk. I need to worry now since on every drive out, we do cross a few army vehicles and VIP cars. Sometimes even at traffic lights or traffic jam.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.