Political circles in Islamabad have witnessed fresh developments after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reportedly intervened to stop Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi from proceeding with a controversial proposal to establish an “Imran Khan Release Force.” Party sources said the intervention was made directly and through senior leadership to prevent potential legal and constitutional complications.
According to party insiders, the development came at a time when the KP chief minister had announced plans to form a dedicated force aimed at securing the release of the party’s founder, Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned. Sources stated that Barrister Gohar clearly warned that the creation of any group labeled as a “force,” particularly if members were required to take an oath for a political objective, could be deemed unconstitutional and unlawful and might even fall within the scope of militancy.
It is reported that the PTI chairman also contacted opposition leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, to build political consensus within PTI and the broader opposition alliance against the move. Political observers are treating the proposal as a serious and sensitive matter.
Internal sources revealed that the KP Chief Minister had planned to administer an oath to members of the proposed force on February 22. However, following internal objections within the party, the move was postponed at the last moment. Reports suggest that the Chief Minister may consider proceeding with the oath-taking after Ramadan.
Senior PTI leaders have privately acknowledged that the proposal created concern within the central leadership, as forming a semi-organized “force” could expose the party to legal action and allegations of promoting confrontation.
Barrister Gohar reportedly advised that if mobilization for Imran Khan’s release is deemed necessary, it should be carried out through legally constituted political committees at provincial, regional, and district levels, as has been done in past political movements, to avoid constitutional and legal complications.
The issue was also prominently discussed during a recent political committee meeting, where participants were instructed to refrain from making public comments on the matter, indicating that the leadership is attempting to contain what could become a damaging internal dispute.
Analysts believe the episode reflects growing strategic differences within PTI. At a time when the party is navigating a complex political environment, some leaders appear to favor a more aggressive approach, while others are advocating for a cautious and legally defensible strategy.
There are also allegations that the idea of forming the release force was suggested to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi by PTI leader Murad Saeed, who is currently in hiding. Sohail Afridi is also regarded as Murad Saeed’s nominated candidate for the position of KP Chief Executive, and reports suggest that Imran Khan did not personally know Afridi before his elevation.
