[ADN Kronos] By Syed Saleem Shahzad - A distant cousin of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud has been tipped to be chosen as the new commander of the Pakistani Taliban. Sources have told Adnkronos International (AKI) that Hakimullah Mehsud is likely to be the new leader, but the move will be decided by Pakistan's shura or tribal council. Hakimullah Mehsud, the deputy of the Pakistani Taliban, is the current leader of the militant Fedayeen al-Islam, or "Islamic Patriots", believed to be responsible for the bombing of the Islamabad Marriott which killed more than 54 people and injured 260 others in September last year.
Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US airstrike in the northwestern tribal region of South Waziristan earlier this week, sources told AKI.
US and Pakistani officials were said to to be checking the reports while Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik confirmed he had "been taken out".
Some Taliban sources confirmed for the first time late Friday that Baitullah Mehsud was immediately killed in the drone strike while he was staying with his second wife.
His face and body were said to have been completely disfigured in the bombing raid and the Taliban immediately cordoned off the area for up to five square kilometres.
A Taliban shura or tribal council immediately met to discuss candidates to replace the slain leader.
There are several contenders for the position but the fierce Hakimullah's name is at the top of the list.
Hakimullah Mehsud currently commands the Taliban in the tribal areas of Orakzai, Khyber and Kurram, bordering Afghanistan.
He also has strong influence in Peshawar and other areas. Considered less intelligent than his predecessor, Hakimullah is known for his cheap jokes.
But he also has a merciless reputation and considered responsible for several high profile abductions including the abduction of an Afghan diplomat and an Iranian diplomat.
With Qari Hussain, a cousin of both Baitullah Mehsud and Hakimullah Mehsud, Hakimullah established a reign of terror in the places like Dera Ismail Khan in North West Frontier Province, Orakzai agency and Peshawar with the targeted killings of Shias.
Supporters of Qari Hussain contacted AKI late Friday to say that Baitullah Mehsud was unharmed.
Hakimullah is also known for kidnappings in several Pakistani cities, and is believed to be responsible for orchestrating attacks on NATO supply routes from Pakistan to Afghanistan.