Afridi to form 'free Imran force' as TTAP ends sit-in

The opposition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) on Wednesday called off its sit-in outside Parliament as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister announced the formation of the 'Imran Khan Release Force', a new strategy to secure relief for jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

The PTI and its allies have been protesting to demand eye treatment for Khan at one of the country's top hospitals, under the supervision of his personal doctors and in the presence of family members.

The alliance formally ended its protest outside Parliament while simultaneously unveiling a fresh political campaign for Khan's release, amid mounting concerns over his deteriorating health and alleged violations of court directives.

Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas said the TTAP sit-in was being wrapped up with the start of Ramazan, as the alliance reviews its next course of action.

Abbas said the protest had been launched in response to what he described as government negligence and unconstitutional conduct regarding Khan's treatment. He alleged that multiple cases, including terrorism charges, had been registered against them for their peaceful demonstrations.

Referring to Khan's condition, Abbas said a medical report submitted to the court confirmed some improvement in his eyesight, though serious concerns remained and continued monitoring was required. He accused jail authorities of negligence, saying legal action was under way.

He called for specialist treatment at Shifa International Hospital and demanded that Khan's family members and personal doctors be granted access. "Even slight improvement makes us happy, and we pray for his full recovery," Abbas said, stressing that transparency required both relatives and medical professionals to be allowed to see him.

A day earlier, TTAP had announced it would continue the sit-in until a meeting with Khan was ensured and his treatment addressed, after reports of vision loss surfaced. PTI counsel Advocate Salman Safdar informed the apex court that Khan had been left with only 15% vision in his right eye following medical complications, triggering an outcry from opposition ranks.

Meanwhile, K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the formation of the 'Imran Khan Release Force', declaring that a peaceful public movement had become unavoidable after what he termed persistent violations of court orders.

Afridi said the force would pursue a completely peaceful struggle and would be dissolved by Khan himself following his release. He added that responsibility for managing protests and negotiations had been assigned to Abbas and Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

He said the force would include members of PTI, the Insaf Students Federation and the party's women's wing, adding that it would be formally registered, operate under a clear chain of command and begin activities only after preparations were complete.

According to Afridi, the initiative aims to ensure constitutional supremacy, strengthen democracy and safeguard an independent media. He emphasised that PTI is a disciplined political party with a clear chain of command.

He insisted that Khan's treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians, in the presence of his family and at a hospital meeting international standards is his constitutional and legal right, stressing that Khan is not an ordinary prisoner but Pakistan's former prime minister.

Afridi said PTI workers have been on the streets for several days without any formal call, staging completely peaceful protests. "Not even a flowerpot has been broken," he remarked, calling it proof that the party's demonstrations remain constitutional and within the bounds of law.

(WITH INPUT FROM OUR PESHAWAR CORRESPONDENT)