On February 18, 2026, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the formation of the 'Imran Khan Release Force' aimed at securing the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023. Afridi stated, "I will disband the force with thanks after the release of the party’s founder," emphasizing that the force will engage in a peaceful struggle for democracy and constitutional supremacy. The force is set to take an oath in Peshawar on February 22, shortly after Eid, and will operate under a defined chain of command, with leadership roles assigned by Khan himself. Afridi highlighted the urgency of the situation, alleging that court orders regarding Khan's treatment were being ignored and that he was being denied access to personal physicians, stating, "First we will prepare, then we will move forward." This announcement comes amid growing concerns about Khan's health, with reports indicating he has only 15% vision remaining in his right eye, raising alarms about his medical care while in custody.