PTI leaders are divided over the proposal put forth by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to establish a "Free Imran Khan Force" for a street agitation aimed at securing the release of the imprisoned former prime minister. The party has clarified that any such initiative would require approval from the central leadership.
Afridi recently announced plans for the "Free Imran Khan Force," which he stated would carry out a peaceful struggle to obtain relief for Imran Khan, who has been in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail for over two years following a corruption conviction. However, this proposal has sparked criticism within the PTI, with concerns raised about potential misinterpretation of the term "force" as inciting violence. Party members fear that opponents could exploit the situation to portray PTI as a violent political entity.
PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan expressed reservations about the use of the term "force" in the proposed name, highlighting the risk of associating it with violent connotations. He suggested renaming it to "Imran Khan Release Volunteers" to avoid any negative perceptions and prevent the recurrence of past violent incidents.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram revealed that neither the party nor its core decision-making bodies were informed in advance about Afridi's proposal. He stated that Afridi, responsible for the party's street movement, would soon brief the Political Committee on the details of the proposed force, emphasizing the need for approval from the central leadership and key party committees before proceeding with the initiative.
