ISLAMABAD — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday submitted a detailed response to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), firmly denying the existence of any armed or paramilitary structure linked to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Afridi clarified that the initiative is officially known as the “Imran Khan Rehayi Aman Movement” — a peaceful, unarmed, and voluntary civic effort aimed solely at advocating for due process and democratic rights.
PTI Founder Release Force case: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has submitted his reply to the Constitutional Court in connection with the matter. #SamaaTV pic.twitter.com/Gls6VoDWpd
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) July 27, 2026
Background of the Petition and Legal Mandate
The rejoinder was filed in reply to a petition submitted by Malik Zaheer Ahmed, who questioned the legality of the movement and claimed that the creation of a so-called “force” to secure Imran Khan’s release violated constitutional provisions and posed a threat to public order.
A three-judge bench of the FCC, headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, is set to hear the case on July 29. The court had earlier directed the KP chief minister on April 1 to submit the provincial government’s position on the matter.
In his response, Afridi stressed that no coercive structure, militant organisation, or official notification regarding any “release force” ever existed:
- No Paramilitary Setup:Any reference to a “force” was based on misinterpretation and had no legal or operational reality.
- Civic & Political Advocacy: The movement’s sole purpose is to raise public awareness about legal due process and the state’s responsibilities in criminal cases.
- Rejection of Historical Analogies: The chief minister dismissed attempts to equate the movement with past militant groups such as Al-Zulfiqar, calling such comparisons misleading and legally baseless.
Separation of Official Duties vs. Political Activity
The rejoinder clearly distinguished between the constitutional responsibilities of the chief minister’s office and party-level political activities:
| Domain | Constitutional Scope | Position Taken in Rejoinder |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Minister’s Office | Public welfare, governance, and development | Has no authority to form political movements in an official capacity. |
| Political Party (PTI) | Organisational policy and advocacy | Civic movements fall under party domain, not executive functions. |
“The initiative in question is a peaceful, unarmed, voluntary, civic and political movement aimed strictly at lawful advocacy… without any element of force or coercion.”
— KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi (Rejoinder to FCC)
Afridi requested the FCC to dismiss the petition, arguing that it does not meet the requirements under Article 175(3) as no violation of fundamental rights has taken place.
He pointed out that the petition is based on speculation, media reports, and hypothetical concerns rather than any actual legal harm. The chief minister maintained that the petitioner lacks locus standi and has approached the court with politically motivated claims.
