FCC seeks response from KP CM Afridi over plans to form ‘Imran Khan release force’

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Wednesday sought a response from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi within 10 days on the planned formation of a “release force” for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.

The proposed force was announced by CM Afridi in February after a days-long protest to secure a meeting with Imran failed to budge the government. It aims to continue the party’s struggle for the release of its founder, who has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail since Aug 5, 2023.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan took up a petition filed by Zaheer Ahmed. The petitioner’s lawyer, Ali Nawaz, presented material related to the release force to the court.

The lawyer recalled that CM Afridi had stated their fight was “with robbers”, contending that such a force was “also a threat to public order and peace”.

He referred to a previous ruling issued by the Sindh High Court in Karachi regarding law and order.

Asked by Justice Ali Baqir Najafi whether the provincial cabinet had allowed the formation of the force, the lawyer said that it had not given any such permission.

Subsequently, a response was sought from the KP CM within 10 days regarding the constitution of the force.

The FCC also issued a notice to the federal government to seek its response. The court directed the government to ensure there was no violation of the Constitution and the law during the formation of the “force”.

When announced, the proposal had divided the PTI and caused concerns among the party leaders, who questioned the rationale for the force. They questioned whether the PTI was going to form another ‘Al-Zulfikar’, a left-wing militant outfit formed by the sons of former PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979.

A party leader, wishing not to be named, said that the announcement had shocked many.

However, several other party leaders believe the protest should be launched immediately rather than “wasting time” on membership drives, after PTI leader Salman Akram Raja announced that they would start the registration for the movement after Eidul Fitr.