LAHORE, Sept 10: President Pervez Musharraf reportedly wants more talks between the PML-Q and the MMA for a settlement of contentious issues, sources close to the general told Dawn on Tuesday.

“There are certain grey areas on which further discussions are required,” the sources said, without identifying the areas or the president’s point of view on them.

However, they made it clear that it would not be right to say that some “agreement” had been reached between the two sides as a result of what the MMA says was the final round of talks on Sunday.

In the talks, Gen Musharraf was represented by his aide Tariq Aziz, who is believed to have briefed his chief on the discussions.

Asked whether the president had accepted whatever had been agreed upon between the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid -i-Azam) and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the sources said:”No,” adding that there were issues requiring further talks.

The two sides had discussed seven of the most controversial issues at the Sunday meeting and told reporters at the end that positive progress had been made in the light of which the matter would be taken to parliament.

However, shortly after the formal briefing, the ruling party chief had said the LFO was part of the Constitution and any amendment to be made by parliament would be in the basic law, not the LFO, thus creating a different impression.

He had also made it clear that it was for the president to decide when he would like to step down as army chief.

The sources said that once the grey areas were covered, the president would meet political party leaders.

They said the meeting would take place before Gen Musharraf’s departure for New York to address the UN General Assembly.

The meeting will be preceded by a meeting of the heads of political parties to be called by Prime Minister Jamali.

The sources say drafting of a constitutional package cannot begin till the president okays the agreement reached.