ISLAMABAD: Maulana Yousuf Shah, who acts as contact person for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), on Saturday told DawnNews that chief negotiator for the outlawed group, Maulana Samiul Haq, had contacted Maulana Abdul Aziz following his announcement to withdraw from the committee, adding that it was likely that the chief cleric of Lal Masjid would continue the work with the TTP committee.

Earlier on Friday, Maulana Aziz had declared at a press conference 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.

His announcement virtually dashed hopes, if there were any, of a successful peace process after the two committees met on Thursday and sounded upbeat about a positive outcome, a security analyst told Dawn.

Also today, Shah said the situation in relation to a meeting of the TTP negotiators with the leadership of the banned outfit would become clearer in two days' time.

He said no time or venue had yet been decided for a meeting with the leadership of the Pakistani Taliban, adding that the committee could also seek assistance from the federal government in arranging for it.

Shah said after having met with the TTP leadership, the negotiators would put forth their point of view before government negotiators.