Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) has again opened Backchannels with Jamiat Disadvantaged Disadvanture-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) as part of his political manevere against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), confirmed on Wednesday.

In the midst of growing whispers of potential alliances, sources said that PTI leader Salman Akram Raja has reached Jui-F’s leadership and expressed a desire for conversations. However, Jui-F has informed PTI that its boss, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is currently gone for Umrah.

With both former rivals who remain tightly and moved gently, they allegedly agreed to meet when FAZL returns, with lectures expected already next week.

In addition, PTI General Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday confirmed that the prison party chairman Imran Khan has issued certain instructions regarding the Jui-F chief, which will be communicated accordingly.

In a speech with the media outside the central prison after meeting Imran, Salman said discussions took place on the opposition alliance, though he refrained from revealing all the details. He reiterated that PTI kept Fazl in respect and wanted him to be part of the alliance.

He also confirmed that Imran had no complaints about the party and that discussions about future strategies had been held. Ex-PM has not met his political allies in the last five months and steps have been taken in this regard.

Raja also criticized certain persons for exploiting legal representation for gaining political influence and emphasizing that those entrusted to the responsibility of Imran should remain focused on political affairs.

He turned to concerns about Imran’s health and rejected circulating false reports and clarified that the former prime minister was in good health after routine control.

He denied claims that Imran was deprived of Suhoor (meal before dawn to fasting) or limited from performing religious activities.

‘Darkest period’

Meanwhile, the opposition leader in the Senate and PTI Stalwart Shibli Faraz announced that the former reigning party joined forces with other opposition parties for a coordinated campaign against the government.

In a speech with journalists outside Peshawar High Court (PHC), he said the past year has been the “darkest period” in Pakistan’s history. He added that the government has bulldozed laws like PECA and the 26th change without a democratic process that spends billions on advertising while doing nothing tangible.

He paralyzed the expanding federal cabinet and called it “a reward for turncoats and defeaters,” adding that the country was drowning in debt while inflation was on one all the time.

Shibli condemned the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, noting that Sindh was also in unrest over water shortages. “We will hit the streets against this incompetent government after Eid,” he announced, adding that PTI is also preparing for legal battles in different courts.

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of Omar Ayub Khan’s achievement on his first anniversary and challenged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s claims of financial stability.

“Where is the stability? We certainly do not see it,” he said, adding that the country was in serious alleys facing a paralyzing economic slowdown, an industrial shutdown and a fighting agricultural sector.

He pointed out that wheat production was facing a crisis, IT and telecom sectors have fallen afterwards and the services were worsened. “The economy shrinks and we are reviewing one of the worst economic periods in history,” Ayub added.

Ayub, who lamented Rupiens depreciation, said Pakistan’s external debt has risen by RS120 billion due to currency enhancement. He also said that RS2,930 billion values ​​of loans have been re -planned, adding that repayment of these loans will be a significant burden to the masses.

He complained that only RS92 billion out of RS1,400 billion has been used, which is only 8% of the allotted funds with only three months left in the financial year.

Ayub also pointed out that capacity payments in the electricity sector have crossed RS2,000 billion, but the government remains ineffective to tackle the crisis.

He questioned the transparency and effectiveness of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and said foreign direct investment (FDI) has dropped to a 50-year low. Meanwhile, $ 350 million was paid for a US company for F-16 aircraft maintenance, while currency reserves have subsided to $ 11 billion.

“Terrorism is rising at an alarming speed across the country where Balochistan witnessed daily attacks,” he warned. “Security forces may not even enter certain areas, and instead of focusing on militants, intelligence agencies are busy monitoring political opponents,” he claimed.