ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has shelved its proposal to form an “Imran Khan Release Force” following internal resistance and legal concerns, marking a setback for hardline elements within the party, according to a report.

The plan, announced before Ramadan by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, aimed to mobilise supporters for the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan through a structured force, including oath-taking and formal registration of members.

However, the proposal faced strong opposition within the party. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan termed the idea “unconstitutional” and “illegal”, warning that such a force could be perceived as militancy.

After internal consultations, the party leadership decided to abandon the concept of Imran Khan Release Force altogether. The initiative has now been restructured into a broader political movement open to all supporters, without any formal structure or oath-taking mechanism.

Sources said the revised strategy focuses on a gradual, peaceful and democratic street movement, explicitly ruling out any form of violence. Participation will remain open and inclusive.

The decision-making authority for any future mobilisation has also been reassigned. Instead of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, the timing and nature of protests or marches will now be determined by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

Party insiders said extensive consultations were held within PTI and with allied opposition groups to ensure a coordinated and measured approach.

Senior leaders have also stressed the importance of avoiding a repeat of past violent incidents, including the unrest of May 9 and clashes during protests in Islamabad in late 2024.

They reiterated that any future movement would remain strictly within constitutional limits. The shift from a structured “force” to a conventional political campaign is being seen as a victory for more pragmatic voices within the party over hardline factions.