Taliban refuses to free former Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani's son

The Taliban has refused to free the sons of former Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, media reported 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.