Rawalpindi/Peshawar:
Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) has once again opened back channels with Jamiat Ulema-E-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) as part of her political maniovas against Pakistan Muslim League of Pakistan (PML-N), the sources confirmed on Wednesday.
Amid the growing whispers of potential alliances, the sources said that PTI leader, Salman Akram Raja, has communicated with Jui-F’s leadership, expressing a desire for conversations. However, Jui-F has informed PTI that his boss, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is currently out for Umrah.
Since both former rivals remain with tight lips and move cautiously, according to the reports, they agreed to meet once Fazl returns, and conversations are expected from next week.
In addition, the secretary general of PTI, the general lawyer Salman Akram Raja, confirmed on Tuesday that the founding president of the imprisoned party Imran Khan has issued certain instructions regarding the JUI-F chief, which will be transmitted accordingly.
Speaking to the media outside the central prison after meeting Imran, Salman said the discussions took place on the opposition alliance, although he refrained from revealing all the details. He reiterated that PTI kept Fazl with respect and wanted him to be part of the Alliance.
He also confirmed that Imran had no complaints regarding the party and that discussions about future strategies had been maintained. The former PM has not fulfilled its political allies during the last five months, and measures have been taken in this regard.
Raja also criticized certain people for taking advantage of legal representation to obtain political influence and emphasized that those confident of Imran’s responsibilities should remain focused on political affairs.
When addressing Imran’s health concerns, he dismissed the false circulating reports, clarifying that the former prime minister had good health after a routine check.
He denied the accusations that Imran was being deprived of Suhoor (food before dawn to fast) or restricted to perform religious activities.
‘Dark period’
Meanwhile, the opposition leader in the Senate and the unconditional of PTI, Shibli Faraz, announced that the former ruling party was joining forces with other opposition parties for a coordinated campaign against the government.
Speaking to journalists outside the Superior Court of Peshawar (PHC), he said that last year has been the “darkest period” in Pakistan’s history. He added that the Government has razed laws such as Peca and the 26th amendment without a democratic process, spending billions in ads while doing nothing tangible.
He criticized the expanding federal cabinet, describing it as “a reward for roads and deserters,” and added that the country was drowning in debt while inflation was at its highest point.
Shibli condemned the worsening of the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan and pointed out that Sindh was also confusion about water scarcity. “We will go to the streets against this incompetent government after EID,” he announced, adding that PTI is also preparing for legal battles in several courts.
Meanwhile, at a separate press conference, the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, criticized the government’s performance on his first anniversary, challenging the economic stability statements of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Where is stability? We certainly do not see it,” he said, and added that the country was in a terrible narrow one, facing a paralyzing economic deceleration, an industrial closure and an agricultural sector in difficulties.
He pointed out that wheat production faced a crisis, IT sectors and telecommunications have been delayed and services were deteriorating. “The economy is being reduced and we are going through one of the worst financial periods in history,” Ayub added.
Lasting the depreciation of the rupee, Ayub said that Pakistan’s external debt has increased by RS120 billion due to the devaluation of the currency. He also said that RS2,930 billion on loans have been rescheduled, adding that paying these loans will be a significant load for the masses.
He regretted that only RS92 billion RS1,400 billion have been spent, which is simply 8% of the funds assigned with only three remaining months in the fiscal year.
Ayub also pointed out that capacity payments in the electricity sector have crossed RS2,000 billion, but the government remains ineffective when addressing the crisis.
He questioned the transparency and effectiveness of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), stating that foreign direct investment (FDI) has fallen to a minimum of 50 years. Meanwhile, $ 350 million were paid to an American company for the maintenance of F-16 aircraft, while currency reserves have decreased to $ 11 billion.
“Terrorism is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the country, with Baluchistan witnessing daily attacks,” he warned. “Security forces cannot even enter certain areas, and instead of focusing on militants, intelligence agencies are occupied by monitoring political opponents,” he said.
