Fresh audio leaks have allegedly exposed links between militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij and the ruling political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.
The leaked recordings, which reportedly involve militant commander Badshah based in Afghanistan and another commander known as Rocketi operating in South Waziristan, have triggered controversy after claims that a provincial lawmaker was granted special treatment.
According to the audio leaks, militants stopped and searched MPA Asif Mehsud and initially issued him an extortion demand in South Waziristan. However, the recordings allegedly reveal that Badshah intervened immediately and instructed Rocketi not to abduct the lawmaker.
In the leaked conversation, the Afghanistan-based militant commander is allegedly heard saying that Asif Mehsud belonged to the ruling political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and should therefore be released. The commander also reportedly instructed that an apology be offered for searching him.
The audio further allegedly includes confirmation from Rocketi that no harm had been caused to the MPA and that the directives issued by militant figures based in Afghanistan were being followed.
Security analysts quoted in the report said the leaked audio appeared to suggest that militants considered leaders of the ruling political party as sympathetic figures and were willing to exempt them from abduction and extortion activities.
They further claimed the recordings reflected what they described as political and social space allegedly provided to militants in the province, resulting in militants treating members of the ruling party as allies.