PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has sacked its central spokesman, better known by the name of "Ehsanullah Ehsan", and appointed "Sheikh Maqbool" as his replacement.

In a written statement, signed by 10 TTP shura (council) members and issued on June 25, the TTP announced the removal of Ehsan as spokesman for the banned militant group.

According to the document, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the Taliban central council believes that the central spokesman had issued a statement which "may have caused rifts and misunderstandings between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban."

The letter, printed on TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud's 'letterhead', confirms Ehsan's removal as spokesman.

Though there is no mention of the new spokesman sources said that 'Sheikh Maqbool', which is also believed to be an assumed identity, would be the new spokesperson of the proscribed Pakistani Taliban.