Protesters in Gilgit Baltistan demand release of AAC leaders

GILGIT: Protests were held across Gilgit Baltistan on Friday, demanding the release of 13 Awami Action Committee (AAC) leaders, who were arrested last month under anti-terrorism laws and charged with “condemning the state”.

Rallies took place in Hunza, Shigar, Kharmang, Skardu, and Nagar, with protesters calling for the immediate release of their detained leaders. A large number of civil society activists, trade and civil society leaders, and human rights campaigners participated in these protests.

The demonstrations, organised in response to a call by the AAC, saw participants chanting slogans against the arrests and alleged harassment of political leaders. They demanded an end to what they called the victimisation of political workers.

On the occasion, speakers termed the victimisation of political workers struggling for rights as condemnable, saying registration of cases against political workers under the Anti-Terrorism Act was not acceptable.

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Addressing a protest at Yadgar Chowk in Skardu, activist Asif Naji claimed the arrests were an attempt to sabotage a planned jirga meant to address issues surrounding the region’s natural resource ownership.

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“The leadership that forced the government to reinstate the wheat subsidy, the leadership that freed the region from illegal and oppressive taxes, the leadership that resisted land grabs and protected Gilgit Baltistan’s minerals — this same leadership is now behind bars. What is their crime, except standing for the people’s rights?” he said.

Naji argued that the Anti-Terrorism Act being misused against the AAC leadership was meant to target terrorists involved in bombings, killings, and internationally recognised acts of terror — not those defending land and mineral rights.

He warned that the protests were just the beginning and that a larger movement would be launched after Eid to secure the release of the detained leaders and protect the region’s land and resources.

Meanwhile, the arrests have sparked strong criticism from political, social, and civil society circles both in the region and internationally. Communist parties in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, and other countries have called for the release of their comrades. Similarly, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also issued a statement demanding the immediate release of AAC leaders and warned against any further raids and arrests.