The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to abandon its earlier proposal to establish an “Imran Khan Release Force” following significant internal opposition and legal concerns, marking a setback for the party’s hardline faction.
Prior to Ramadan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had announced plans to create a dedicated force aimed at mobilising supporters for the release of the imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan. This initiative involved administering an oath to volunteers and formally registering members before launching a coordinated campaign.
However, the proposal quickly faced resistance within the party ranks. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan criticized the idea as “unconstitutional” and “illegal,” cautioning that such a force could be perceived as a militant entity. After thorough internal discussions, the party leadership opted to scrap the concept entirely.
In a significant development, the initiative has been restructured into a broader, more inclusive political movement open to all supporters, without any oath-taking or formal organisation resembling a force. The revised strategy focuses on a gradual, peaceful, and democratic street movement, explicitly ruling out any form of violence or militancy.
Notably, the responsibility for deciding the timing and nature of any street mobilisation will no longer rest with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister. Instead, these decisions will be made by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
Extensive consultations have taken place not only within PTI but also with allied opposition groups to ensure a unified and measured approach. Senior party leaders have emphasized the importance of avoiding any recurrence of past violent incidents, including the unrest of May 9 and clashes during protests in Islamabad in late 2024.
They have firmly committed to ensuring that future mobilisation remains strictly peaceful and within constitutional limits. This shift from a structured “force” to a conventional political movement is widely viewed as a defeat for the party’s hardliners, with pragmatic voices prevailing over more confrontational tactics.
