PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan intervened to halt a plan by Sohail Afridi to create an “Imran Khan Release Force,” aimed at securing the release of the jailed former prime minister, according to party sources.
The intervention, carried out directly and through senior party figures, followed Afridi’s public announcement about forming a dedicated force. Sources said Gohar warned that establishing any entity requiring an oath for a political objective could be interpreted as unconstitutional, unlawful, and potentially linked to militancy.
In an apparent move to build political consensus, Gohar also engaged opposition leaders, including Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, signaling the seriousness with which the proposal was viewed across party lines.
Afridi had reportedly planned to administer an oath to members of the proposed force on February 22, but the plan was quietly shelved following internal objections. Party insiders indicate that the chief minister may proceed with the oath after Ramazan.
Senior PTI officials expressed concern that creating a quasi-organizational force could expose the party to legal challenges and accusations of promoting confrontation. Gohar reportedly advised that any mobilization for Khan’s release should instead be conducted through legally recognized political committees at provincial, regional, and district levels, a strategy historically employed by the party.
The issue was also discussed at a recent PTI political committee meeting, where members were instructed to avoid public commentary, reflecting attempts to contain the controversy internally.
Sources allege that underground PTI leader Murad Saeed suggested the idea of the release force to Afridi, who was Saeed’s nominee for the KP chief minister post. Party officials added that Khan did not personally know Afridi before his appointment.
The episode highlights internal tensions within PTI, as some leaders favour aggressive mobilization strategies, while others push for a cautious, legally defensible approach amid Pakistan’s volatile political environment.