During the meeting, agenda for Wednesday's formal meeting was discussed, said a blurb issued after the meeting.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddqui, who is coordinator of the government committee, said that response from the TTP Political Shura over the government's conditions was 'satisfactory.'
Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...the political wing of the Pak Taliban...
-Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq
...the
Godfather of the Taliban,leader of his own faction of the JUI. Known as
Mullah Sandwichfor his habit of having two young boys at a time...
, who is a member of the committee nominated by the TTP, said that Taliban's demands were placed in front of government negotiators, adding that attempts at a ceasefire would be made in the first stage of dialogue.
The meeting was held after Professor Ibrahim and Maulana Yousuf Shah returned from North
Wazoo after meeting with the TTP's political shura and receiving their response regarding the demands of the government.After meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
earlier on Monday, Irfan Siddiqui reiterated that the government was fully committed to restoring peace in the country and would leave no stone unturned to achieve this objective.
However,
if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well...
a bigwig of the prime minister office, when contacted, said that "frankly speaking the top leadership of the government isn't that hopeful. But one can expect that the TTP leadership positively responds to the government's offer for talks."
Meanwhile,
...back at the revival hall, the congregants were being herded into the paddy wagon...
Maulana Abdul Aziz, who was not present at the meeting, said that he was not informed of today's as well as tomorrow's formal meeting of the two committees.
Earlier on Friday last week, Maulana Aziz had declared at a presser that he would no longer take part in negotiations between the two sides until the condition of imposing Islamic laws was made part of the dialogue.
But, Maulana Yousuf Shah said the following day that it was likely that the chief holy man of Lal Masjid would continue the work with the TTP committee.