Pakistan Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud, the alleged mastermind in the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto died on Tuesday after protracted illness, a media report has said.
The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Taliban chief, who was believed to be suffering from diabetes and hypertension passed away, Dawn News said quoting official sources.
There was no word on the reported development from the numerous spokespersons of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The daily had reported earlier this week that Mehsud, who suffered from diabetes, had been bed-ridden for the past three weeks and was unable to move, causing a lot of concern among the Taliban leaders.
It was also reported that his poor health had led to the convergence of the top militant leadership at Makeen in South Waziristan tribal region for a meeting.
The last time Mehsud had fallen ill a few months ago, he had gone into a coma. His condition was reportedly so bad that a meeting of top Taliban leaders was on the verge of nominating a new chief. However, Mehsud regained consciousness and made a swift recovery.
"This time also he seems to have gone into a coma... This time, however, his condition may be more serious as his kidneys have failed because of the high level of sugar," a source was quoted as saying by the News early this week.
Mehsud, 35, a former physical instructor at a school had recently got married. Like his idol, Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Mehsud rarely allowed himself to be photographed or filmed.
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