No 'Imran Khan Release Force' Exists, KP Chief Minister Tells Constitutional Court

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has categorically denied the existence of any armed or paramilitary group aimed at securing the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. Appearing before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), Afridi asserted that the "Imran Khan Rehayi Aman Movement" is a peaceful, unarmed, and voluntary civic initiative focused on raising public awareness about due process of law.

Afridi's statement was in response to a petition filed by Malik Zaheer Ahmed, who argued that the alleged formation of a force to free Imran Khan violates the Constitution and threatens public order. The chief minister's rejoinder, filed with the FCC, stated that no "Imran Khan Rehayi Force" has ever been constituted, notified, or operationalized. He emphasized that any prior references to a "force" were misinterpreted and lack legal or factual basis.

The rejoinder clarified that the movement's primary objective is lawful, democratic, and constitutional advocacy for the release of a political leader, without any element of force, militancy, or coercion. Afridi dismissed comparisons made by the petitioner to historical militant organizations as "entirely misplaced, factually incorrect, misleading and legally untenable," arguing they are based on political conjecture unrelated to the present facts.

The Federal Constitutional Court is scheduled to hear the petition on July 29. The court had previously directed the KP chief minister to respond to the plea seeking to prevent the alleged mobilization or activation of the force. Afridi termed the petition "speculative, politically motivated and liable to be dismissed."