Former Pakistani Taliban leader accused of shooting Malala claims prison break

ISLAMABAD: Former spokesman of proscribed militant outfit, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ehsanullah Ehsan said he had escaped from jail, according to an audio message, allegedly released by him, which went viral on social media on Thursday.
In April 2017, Ehsan surrendered himself to Pakistan’s security agencies and had since been in their custody.
“My name is Ehsanullah Ehsan. I was formerly associated with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JUA). I surrendered myself to Pakistani secret agencies on February 5, 2107 under an agreement. On my behalf, I abide by that agreement for almost three years but the cunning Pakistani agencies got me detained along with my children against the very spirit of that deal,” said the voice in the recording.
Adnan Bitani, a journalist who has extensively covered militancy in northwestern Pakistan, told Arab News that though he had no tools to verify the audio, he is sure the voice belonged to the former TTP spokesman.
Bitani said that Liaqat Ali, widely known as Ehsan, originated from Mohmand tribal district and held a bachelor’s degree in arts.
In 2012, Ehsan claimed responsibility of an armed assault on then 15-year-old girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai.
Yousafzai was shot for defying the Taliban by pursuing her education and highlighting atrocities by the militants. In 2014, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
“We patiently bore the hardships of detention for three long years but ultimately planned to flee from there. On January 11, 2020 almighty Allah helped me and I got escaped from the detention of Pakistani agencies, thank God,” the voice in the recording said.
“What agreement was reached with me and on whose approval, what were silent features of the deal and who was the figure who persuaded me to enter the deal, assuring me security? Where was I kept in Pakistan during my detention and under what circumstances? How was I forced to talk and under what circumstances? What Pakistani authorities wanted us to do, what are their plans? In addition, I will reveal the tactics of Pakistani army and the agencies for which I am an eye witness account. Inshallah, I will very soon let the whole world know about all these. I will also make revelations about my future strategy and plans, inshallah,” he added.
Ehsan was named the prime suspect in the terrorist attack on on army-run school in Peshawar in 2014, killing 134 schoolchildren and 15 staff members.
The former TTP spokesman was also accused of orchestrating two bomb blasts targeting peace committee volunteers in Mohmand tribal district in 2014, and the 2016 bombing of an Easter gathering in Lahore that left 75 people dead and over 300 wounded.
Bitani said that his escape from jail would trigger a power struggle among Taliban leaders and more violence in the troubled Pakistan-Afghanistan region.
“I still recall, Ehsan had greater influence among the insurgent group before his surrender. But after his escape, Taliban will not trust him because of his controversial statements and role. Also his escape has put a big question mark on authorities’ efficiency,” he said.