Gilgit-Baltistan Erupts: Protests Intensify Over Detention of Civic Leaders

Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir – March 15, 2026:
On the occasion of Al-Quds Day, communities across Gilgit-Baltistan held widespread rallies and demonstrations expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. However, central to this year’s observances was a growing public concern over the detention of key local leaders of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan (AACGB) under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The arrests have sparked a wave of outrage across the region, with citizens mobilizing to demand immediate release.

The main rally, which began at Jamia Masjid Thwar in Rondu, brought together religious scholars, social and political leaders, and hundreds of local residents. While the demonstrators raised voices for the liberation of Jerusalem and condemned ongoing atrocities against Palestinians, a parallel and equally urgent theme of the gathering was the plight of AAC leaders, including Chairman Advocate Ehsan Ali, who were arrested in recent weeks on controversial charges.

Public Protest Against Detentions

Participants carried banners and chanted slogans demanding the immediate release of detained AAC leaders. Speakers condemned the government’s use of ATA provisions to silence peaceful activists, describing the arrests as arbitrary, politically motivated, and a direct attack on civil liberties.

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Allama Ghulam Abbas, addressing the crowd, remarked:
“The detention of leaders who have long championed the rights of the people is a violation of basic democratic principles. Using anti-terror laws against peaceful protests and community activism is both illegal and morally unacceptable.”

The Awami Action Committee Rondu presented a unanimous resolution at the rally, calling for the withdrawal of all ATA charges and immediate release of their leaders, framing the demand as both a matter of justice and a defense of constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Regional Solidarity and Widespread Outrage

The detention crisis has galvanized citizens across multiple districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. In Jutal, Gilgit, community members organized rallies denouncing the arrests and calling for the swift release of AAC officials. In Khurmang, a protest led by AAC Khurmang President Shabbir Mayar condemned fabricated FIRs lodged against local leaders, highlighting that their only “offense” was to organize peaceful public gatherings, including Iftar sessions, and to advocate for justice for victims of recent incidents of violence.

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Organizers emphasized that these detentions were being used as a pretext to suppress dissent and intimidate the public. The rallies reiterated that peaceful civic activism should not be criminalized, and stressed that holding leaders under ATA for organizing community discussions is a direct affront to democratic values and human rights.

The public demonstrations echo similar protests held last year across Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, and even internationally, which successfully pressured authorities to release AACGB leaders. This year, however, the issue has gained renewed urgency as the arrests appear strategically timed around Al-Quds Day, signaling an attempt to stifle both international solidarity activism and local civic engagement.

Observers note that the ongoing detentions could escalate tensions in the region, particularly as communities see the arrests as unjust and politically motivated. Leaders and activists argue that detaining peaceful civil society members under anti-terror laws sends a dangerous message that public dissent and advocacy for justice are considered threats to state authority.

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Grassroots Mobilization and Community Response

Throughout the day, residents in Rondu, Khurmang, and Jutal maintained a steady presence in protest, highlighting the resilience of civic activism in the region. Citizens expressed that their participation was not only in solidarity with Palestinians but also as a demonstration of support for local leaders fighting for justice and community rights.

The Awami Action Committee Rondu, in closing statements, extended gratitude to participants for standing united in support of their detained leaders. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue peaceful advocacy until all leaders are released, framing the movement as a struggle for justice, freedom of expression, and protection of human rights in Gilgit-Baltistan.

This year’s Al-Quds Day in Gilgit-Baltistan has highlighted dual struggles: the fight for Palestinian solidarity on the international stage and the urgent local demand for the release of civic leaders detained under contentious anti-terrorism laws. The demonstrations underscore the deep-rooted commitment of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to justice, peaceful protest, and human rights, reflecting a region-wide insistence that activism and advocacy must never be criminalized.