Islamabad, Aug 9 (IBNS) One of the two potential Pakistani Taliban leaders, who was to succeed ‘recently killed’ Baitullah Mehsud, has been shot dead late Saturday in a gunbattle between supporters of senior Taliban leaders, said Interior Minister Rehman Mallik.

The Taliban, however, denied the report.

“Either Hakeemullah Mehsud or Wali ur Rehman Mehsud was to succeed Baitullah. But one of them was killed in a intra-party clash in South Waziristan,” Malik said, adding that he is awaiting the confirmation which one of the two died.

A senior Taliban commander called the reports of clashes between top Taliban leaders and a death of a potential successor false, accusing the government of dispensing propaganda.

“They want to create some sort of rift, and they want to launch a military operation in South Waziristan and use this as a pretext for such an operation,” he said.

Saturday’s possible shooting came after intelligence reports that Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a recent drone attack, reported CNN.

Pakistan’s foreign and interior ministers said Friday the government was still waiting to conduct DNA analysis to confirm the identity of a man killed Wednesday in an unmanned aerial vehicle strike.

Taliban officials have denied reports of Baitullah’s death.

Malik said the Taliban has not offered any voice or video evidence to prove the contrary.

“That’s why I have not confirmed, because I believe something to be solid. And a solid thing can only be possible if you have substantive material evidence,” Malik said.