‘Rihai Force’ membership cards to be issued within days. Oath-taking to be held in Peshawar after Eid: CM Afridi
DLP Report
ISLAMABAD
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Wednesday announced the formation of an “Imran Khan Rihai Force” and signalled the launch of a countrywide street movement, saying continued disregard for court orders had made a peaceful public struggle inevitable.
Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan after a hearing related to former prime minister Imran Khan, the Chief Minister said preparations were being initiated for a mass movement through the establishment of the force, under which youth from across the country would be registered.
He said the “Rihai Force” would comprise members of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF), Insaf Youth Wing, Women Wing, Minority Wing, professionals and people from various walks of life.
The movement, he added, would remain entirely peaceful and would be dissolved by Mr Khan upon his release.
Mr Afridi said membership cards would be issued within four to five days, while a formal oath-taking ceremony of youth would be held in Peshawar after Eid. He added that a clear chain of command would be established and that all directions for the movement would be issued through leadership nominated by Mr Khan.
Responding to a question, he said Mr Khan had entrusted the responsibility for protest and negotiations to leaders of the Tehreek Tahaffuz Aain-i-Pakistan, including Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, following which a sit-in was staged outside Parliament House. He said the entire leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had responded to the call and remained present there.
The Chief Minister said Mr Khan had assigned him the task of preparing for the proposed street movement and that organisational work was underway across the country. Despite pursuing constitutional, legal and democratic avenues, he alleged, court orders continued to be ignored and Mr Khan was being denied access even to his personal physician.
He told party workers that a formal call for the movement would be given after thorough preparations. “This struggle is for real freedom, supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law, restoration of democracy and a free media,” he said, expressing confidence that truth and justice would ultimately prevail.
In response to another question, Mr Afridi said protests in the province had been initiated voluntarily by workers. However, following directives issued by the Peshawar High Court, the party stepped back in deference to the judiciary. He thanked party workers and the people of the province for what he described as their steadfast support and endurance.
