A senior commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was killed by unidentified armed men in Lakki Marwat district, amid reports of internal disputes within the outlawed group, security sources said on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Maulana Younis, also known as “Bala,” a senior TTP commander believed to be involved in multiple militant activities in the region. His body was recovered from the Baragi area of Lakki Marwat, sources said.
According to officials, the body was identified through an identity card found at the scene. The killing appears to have been targeted, though the exact motive remains unclear.
Security sources said Maulana Younis was an active commander of the banned TTP and also served as a facilitator for the Tipu Gul group, a militant faction linked to several terrorist incidents in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Preliminary assessments suggest the killing may be linked to internal rifts within the TTP, possibly stemming from disputes over authority, organizational positions, resources, or operational control. However, investigators have not ruled out other possibilities, including factional rivalry or personal enmity.
The death of Maulana Younis is being described by security officials as a significant blow to the operational capabilities of the banned outfit in the area, where militant groups have previously targeted security forces and civilians.
Law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the incident and increased patrols in the surrounding areas to prevent any retaliatory violence.
Lakki Marwat and adjoining districts have witnessed intermittent militant activity in recent years, with security forces continuing operations to curb the presence of banned armed groups.
