FCCP adjourns hearing in alleged PTI ‘release force’ case until after summer recess

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2026) The Federal Constitutional Court on Tuesday adjourned until after the summer recess the hearing of a constitutional petition filed against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and others over the alleged formation of a "release force" for the party's founder.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, heard the petition.

During the proceedings, counsel for the PTI leaders, Ali Bukhari, sought time to file his power of attorney and written reply. He informed the court that, in addition to representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, he had also been instructed to represent Salman Akram Raja in the case and had been informed of the latter's representation only on Tuesday morning.

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The Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa told the court that the matter was political in nature and requested that PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja be granted time to submit his reply. He said the constitutional petition alleged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was establishing a private militia.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that only one respondent had so far filed a reply before the court. He requested the court to extend its earlier order directing the parties not to disturb the law and order situation.

However, Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan observed that there was no need to extend the order, as it was not confined to the day's proceedings and therefore remained effective.

The court subsequently adjourned further hearing of the case until after the summer recess.