ISLAMABAD: Hakimullah Mehsud, the top militant commander of defunct Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is still alive and safe in some unknown location of North Waziristan, independent sources told DawnNews on Friday.

“Hakimullah is well and safe in North Waziristan… the news related to his killing in the drone attack carried out by the US military is incorrect,” an official source told this reporter.

The claim was also verified from at least two other independent sources.

The sources claimed that Hakimullah has taken a number of measures to ensure his safety and secrecy, and that he had stopped using electronic communication equipment, such as wireless sets, for the same reason.

Almost a week ago, reports quoting unknown sources mentioned intercepted radio communications between Taliban militants detailing how Hakimullah was killed.

In February 2011 similar media reports had claimed the killing of the TTP chief, however later incidents proved otherwise.