Sharif to meet government committee on peace talks

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will Tuesday evening meet the government committee negotiating with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on restoring peace.

The meeting will take place at the Prime Minister House and is scheduled to discuss the situation emerging in the wake of the ceasefire declared by both sides, Dawn online reported.

The prime minister is likely direct the committee on how to proceed with the the talks.

All four members of the government committee - Irfan Siddiqui, Rahimullah Yousufzai, Rustam Shah Mohmand and Maj. Amir - are expected to attend the meeting.

The meeting is scheduled a day after an attack in a court in Islamabad, which left 11 people, including a judge, dead.

The TTP dissociated itself from Monday's attack which was later claimed by the Ahrarul Hind, a lesser-known splinter group of the TTP. The group has parted ways with the TTP over holding of talks with the government.

Following Tuesday's meeting, Sharif will meet Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif and top security aides and military officials to discuss the dialogue process.