Born: /;

Place of Birth: Qandaro, Pakistan;

Gender: Male;

Nationality: Pakistani;

General Info:
Ehsanullah Ehsan (real name: Liaquat Ali), along with other former commanders of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, such as Omar Khalid Khorasani, led a splinter group (Jamaat-ul-Ahrar) of the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

He was a former spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and a senior leader of the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. In 2014, after a split in the TTP, Ehsan became a spokesperson for the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. In April 2017, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Asif Ghafoor announced that Ehsan had surrendered himself to Pakistan’s security agencies.

However, ISPR’s claim was disputed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, who claimed that Ehansullah Ehsan was captured by Pakistan security agencies from Paktika province of Afghanistan.

Militant activity:
In December 2011, Ehsanullah disputed that the Pakistani Taliban was negotiating a cease-fire with the Pakistani government. He asserted that the individuals negotiating that cease-fire were doing so without the authorization of the Taliban’s leadership. He was sacked on June 25, 2013.

In April 2017, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Asif Ghafoor announced that Ehsan had surrendered himself to Pakistan‘s security agencies. However, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar disputed ISPR’s claim.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed that Ehansullah Ehsan did not surrender, rather he was captured by Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) from Paktika province of Afghanistan. The group further claimed that Ehsan was captured on 7 March by Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and was later handed over to the Pakistan army. Paktika province of Afghanistan is known as safe heaven for multiple terrorist groups.

Attacks:
– On October 9, 2012, Ehsan claimed responsibility for the Taliban shooting in the head of a 15-year-old Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai, a girl who was famous for highlighting Taliban atrocities. He said that the teenager’s work had been an “obscenity” that needed to be stopped: “This was a new chapter of obscenity, and we have to finish this chapter.” On October 15, Pakistani interior minister, Rehman Malik, offered a $1 million bounty for Ehsan.

– On November 22, 2012, Ehsan claimed Taliban responsibility for suicide bombings carried out the day before against Shiites in Rawalpindi and Karachi. As justification for the attacks, he stated that “the Shiite community is engaged in defiling the Prophet.” He also asserted that his group’s activities would continue “irrespective of security measures taken by Rehman Malik.”

– On December 15, 2012, Ehsan confirmed Taliban involvement in a rocket attack on Bacha Khan International Airport that killed 4 people and wounded 35. He noted that the attack’s intended target was actually an adjacent airbase, and claimed that the Taliban “have planned more attacks on Pakistani forces and its installation as it works to please the USA”.

– On June 23, 2013, Ehsan claimed responsibility for the killing of nine foreign tourists and their guide in Gilgit-Balitistan.

– On November 2, 2014, Ehsan claimed responsibility for the 2014 Wagah border suicide attack. “Some other groups have claimed responsibility of this attack, but these claims are baseless. We will soon release the video of this attack,” he said. “This attack is revenge for the killing of innocent people in North Waziristan,” the banned militant group’s spokesman said.

– On November 7, 2014, Ehsan claimed responsibility for twin blasts that killed at least six people in Mohmand agency. The blasts targeted the peace committee volunteers in Chinari village of Safi Tehsil. Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for the blasts targeting members of government backed peace committee and vowed to continue attacking tribal peace committees.

– On November 21, 2014, Ehsan claimed responsibility for a grenade attack, on the micro-blogging website Twitter, on the membership camp of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Orangi Town area of Karachi. Three members of the Sindh Assembly and 50 workers were injured.

– On August 16, 2015, Ehsan claimed responsibility for the killing of Col. (R) Shujaat Khanzada (Punjab Interior Minister) with the help of RSU* (Rana Sana Ullah) allies’ and said that they will fix all those who are against TTP, ASWJ, LJ & Molana Ghazi.

– On March 27, 2016, Ehsan claimed responsibility for the bombing at Lahore park, Pakistan. Ehsan stated that the attack was on Christians, as they were celebrating Easter.

– On September 13, 2016, Ehsan claimed responsibility for the IED blast in Quetta, Pakistan, that targeted a police vehicle, killing at least 2 and injuring 5 policemen.