ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The announcement of the Imran Khan Release Force has triggered fresh PTI internal divisions, exposing deep cracks inside the party. The controversy began after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the formation of a special force aimed at securing Imran Khan’s release.
The announcement came shortly after Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan ended its sit-in outside the Supreme Court on the eve of Ramadan. Speaking at the same venue, Afridi declared that the Imran Khan Release Force would mobilize supporters to push for the former prime minister’s freedom. Many party leaders appeared surprised by the move.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said during a TV talk show that he learned about the proposal only when it was publicly announced. He described it as a possible suggestion by the chief minister that still required discussion within the PTI political committee. He questioned the need for a new body when party structures like the Insaf Students Federation and youth wings already exist.
Akram stressed that any such decision should receive approval from the PTI political committee or Secretary General Salman Akram Raja. He argued that launching the Imran Khan Release Force without formal endorsement could create confusion within the party.
However, Shafi Ullah Jan, an aide to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, took a different stance. He said once the chief minister made the announcement, the force would be formed regardless of internal objections. According to him, no additional approval was required. He later added that the party would be consulted, but insisted that the chief minister had authority over the street movement assigned by Imran Khan.
Sources said the proposal was discussed in a recent PTI political committee meeting. The forum was reportedly sharply divided. Several members raised concerns about establishing a new force when a full party structure already exists.
The debate over the Imran Khan Release Force has intensified criticism of PTI’s decision-making process. Critics inside and outside the party argue that forming such a controversial force could damage its political credibility and raise legal questions.
Meanwhile, five senior leaders jailed at Kot Lakhpat prison in Lahore, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Umar Sarfraz Cheema and Mian Mahmood Rashid, urged the party to pause protests during Ramadan. In a joint letter, the Kot Lakhpat jail PTI leaders called for focusing on parliamentary politics instead of street agitation.
They asked the government to stop politicising Imran Khan’s health and ensure proper medical treatment in consultation with his family and personal doctors. The jailed leaders also condemned remarks made by President Asif Ali Zardari, calling them inappropriate.
The letter advised PTI to strengthen its legal battle in courts and improve internal coordination. It recommended that key decisions be taken through consensus in the core committee. If consensus is not possible, decisions should be made by majority vote and documented formally.
The imprisoned leaders also demanded stricter discipline. They said party policy should only be communicated by designated officials to avoid mixed messaging. They called for organisational revival across the country ahead of local government elections.
At the same time, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif strongly criticized the Imran Khan Release Force. In a statement to the media, Khawaja Asif warned that such a force was unconstitutional and illegal. He said only the federal government has the authority to create any force and suggested that the move could put the chief minister’s position at risk.
He also dismissed reports about shifting Imran Khan abroad or to Bani Gala, saying no such discussions had taken place.
The growing dispute over the Imran Khan Release Force reflects serious PTI internal divisions at a sensitive time. With Ramadan underway and legal battles continuing, the party now faces a difficult choice between confrontation and parliamentary engagement.
