Islamabad: The Taliban has refused to free the sons of former Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, media reported on Friday.
The shura members of the Tehrik-iTaliban (TTP), however, have agreed to release Ajmal Khan, former vice-chancellor of Peshawar’s Islamia College, in return for the government freeing two of their men who are in a jail in Sindh, Dawn online reported.
Ajmal Khan was kidnapped at gunpoint from Professors’ Colony in the University of Peshawar along with his driver and has been in custody since Sep 7, 2010.
The driver was set free after two years.
The TTP has been informed that the demand to release the two prisoners will be possible only after the matter was taken up by the Sindh government.
During the direct talks Wednesday, the release of the head of the outlawed Tehreek Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi had also come under discussion.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities will probe a terrorist threat reported by Pakistan People’s Party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Bilawal posted a tweet Thursday that he had received a threatening letter from the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jahngvi (LeJ), Dawn online reported.
He said the Punjab government would be responsible if there was an attack on him.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed Punjab Police to contact Bilawal and launch a swift probe into the matter, the report said.
Bilawal has been critical of all banned militant outfits especially the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. (IANS)
