The appointment of Maulvi Muhammad Nazir as new Taliban chief in south Waziristan has left some senior commanders unhappy as punishments under Islamic laws have begun taking effect, sources said on Monday. Certain Taliban commanders were unhappy over Nazir’s appointment after a high-level Jirga from Afghanistan recently visited south Waziristan, said tribal sources.Haji Mohammad Omar, the senior commander who took charge of Taliban militants after group leader Nek Muhammad’s killing in a missile attack in June 2004, was quoted as saying that Nazir “deserved” to be appointed ameer. Omar is deputy to Maulvi Nazir, who tribal elders say is a “moderate” among other Taliban commanders and “dislikes attacking” Pakistani security forces.
Sources said that commanders Iftikhar and Ghulam Jan were previously “sacked” from the Taliban ranks for their alleged involvement in activities “contrary to jihad” and hence, their groups has also been dissolved. “There is a tense calm after the change of guard,” said sources, adding that Maulvi Nazir “enjoys more respect than other commanders among the local population because of his respect for local traditions.”
The Taliban ameer, meanwhile, constituted a peace committee to ensure law and order across Waziristan and one source said that a “foreign religious scholar” began issuing punishments under Shariah. “Three Uzbek militants were awarded dozens of lashes for involvement in criminal activity,” the source claimed, adding that no local tribesman had yet been punished under Islamic laws. Sources also said that the Taliban commanders were keeping the scholar’s identity and location secret.
Islamabad sent its troops to barracks after striking peace accords with tribal militant commanders in November 2004, and since then the local administration was restricted to offices as the Taliban took charge of Waziristan. Tribal sources said that the Taliban’s public image among the local population was “under serious threat” as criminals were roaming the streets “camouflaged as jihadis.”