Taliban commander shot dead in northwest Pakistan

The Associated Press ,  Islamabad   |  Tue, 06/23/2009 11:30 AM  |  World

A Taliban faction leader who criticized the militant group's Pakistani head over attacks that killed civilians was fatally shot Tuesday, reportedly by one of his own guards.

Dr. Mahmood Khan Bitani told The Associated Press that he pronounced Qari Zainuddin dead on arrival at a hospital in the northwest town of Dera Ismail Khan with gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Baz Mohammad, an aide of the militant leader who also was wounded, said a guard barged into a room at Zainuddin's compound after morning prayers and opened fire. He accused Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud of being behind the attack.

"It was definitely Baitullah's man who infiltrated our ranks, and he has done his job," Mohammad told AP, vowing to avenge the death.

Earlier this month, Zainuddin denounced Mehsud for recent attacks that have killed civilians.

"Whatever Baitullah Mehsud and his associates are doing in the name of Islam is not a jihad, and in fact it is rioting and terrorism," Zainuddin told AP after a mosque suicide bombing attack, blamed on Mehsud, killed 33 people. "Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism."

Zainuddin's motive for criticizing Mehsud was not clear, but there was speculation that he was trying to portray himself as a more moderate alternative to the Taliban leader.
  

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