Pakistani Taliban have denied claims that their chief Hakimullah Mehsud contacted an ex- lawmaker of Pakistan for seeking release of 50 militants being held in various prisons of the country, Dawn News reported Thursday.

   

 The denial came following a claim by Javed Ibrahim Paracha, a former member of the National Assembly, that the chief of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had telephoned him and named 50 Taliban prisoners for their release.

 

 Inmates belonging to banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Sipah-i-Sahaba – a former proscribed sectarian militant group – and the TTP were included in the list.

 

 Paracha, who later visited Adiala Jail and met Taliban prisoners,  told media that a procedure for the militants’ release was under consideration.

 

 Both the government and the Taliban, said sources, were currently engaged in expediting the potential peace negotiations.

 

 IANS