By Zahid Shah

ISLAMABAD -  Political tensions in Pakistan intensified on Wednesday after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi announced the formation of an “Imran Khan Release Force” following a Supreme Court hearing related to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

 

Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Afridi said the new body would organize a nationwide, but “completely peaceful,” protest movement aimed at securing Khan’s release.

 

He described the initiative as an “organized public struggle,” alleging continued violations of court orders in Khan’s case.

 

Afridi said membership for the force would begin immediately across the country, targeting youth and supporters from various wings of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including student, women, minority and professional groups.

Membership cards are expected to be issued within days, with an oath-taking ceremony planned in Peshawar after Eid.

 

He added that the movement would operate under a structured chain of command, with directives issued through leadership nominated by Khan. According to Afridi, the force would be dissolved by Khan himself upon his release.

 

- Health concerns fuel protests

 

The announcement comes amid growing concerns over Khan’s health in prison, which have sparked protests by his supporters across major cities. His family and party leaders have raised alarms over reported medical issues, demanding either his transfer to a hospital or access to an independent medical examination.

Authorities have said medical care is being provided in accordance with prison regulations.

 

Khan, who was removed from office in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, has since faced multiple legal cases and remains incarcerated. His detention has remained a flashpoint in Pakistan’s polarized political landscape, triggering repeated demonstrations by PTI supporters.

 

Afridi framed the new mobilization as a struggle for “real freedom, supremacy of the Constitution and law, democracy and a free media.”

He insisted that PTI remains committed to complying with court orders while pursuing what he called a constitutional and peaceful movement.

 

The federal government has previously accused PTI of using street pressure to influence judicial and political processes, a charge the party denies.

 

With protests continuing, analysts say the coming weeks could prove critical for Pakistan’s political stability as the standoff over Khan’s imprisonment and health deepens.