A new controversy has emerged within Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf after the proposed Imran Khan Release Force plan triggered serious concerns among the party’s top leadership. The issue came to light when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi publicly announced the idea of forming a dedicated force to secure the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
According to party sources, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan swiftly intervened to halt the move. He reportedly issued a clear warning that creating any entity described as a force, especially one requiring members to take an oath for a political objective, could be viewed as unconstitutional and unlawful. Legal experts within the party feared that such a step might expose the PTI to accusations of militancy and create serious constitutional complications.
Insiders revealed that the chief minister had planned to administer an oath to members of the proposed force on February 22. However, the plan was quietly shelved following internal objections, though there are indications it may resurface after Ramazan.
The controversy also prompted Barrister Gohar to reach out to opposition leaders, including Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, in an effort to build broader political consensus against the proposal. The matter was discussed in detail during a recent meeting of PTI’s political committee, where members were instructed to avoid public comments.
Senior party figures have privately admitted that forming a quasi organisational force could damage the party’s legal standing. Instead, Barrister Gohar advised setting up lawful political committees at provincial and district levels to mobilise support for Khan’s release in a constitutionally safe manner.
The episode highlights growing internal tensions within PTI, as some leaders favour aggressive mobilisation while others advocate a cautious and legally defensible political strategy.
