Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, (Pakistan-Administered Kashmir): Gilgit police on May 14, 2025 arrested Advocate Ehsan Ali, Chairman of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan (AACGB), and Engineer Mahboob Wali, the committee’s Vice Chairman, sparking widespread condemnation from local political and civil society groups. The arrests, reportedly made from Gilgit’s Madina Market, have intensified concerns over escalating tensions in the politically sensitive region.
Details of the Arrests
According to eyewitnesses and local sources, law enforcement detained the AAC leaders without prior notice. No formal charges or reasons for the arrests have been disclosed, fueling speculation about the motives behind the move. The AAC, a prominent civil rights group, has long advocated for Gilgit-Baltistan’s constitutional rights, regional autonomy, and resolution of the area’s disputed status under international law.
Outcry and Condemnation
The AAC and allied organizations denounced the arrests as “state coercion” aimed at silencing dissent. In a joint statement, the group said: “We vehemently condemn these authoritarian tactics. The government must release our leaders unconditionally and cease actions that risk destabilizing the region.”
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Advocate Mir Hassan Niazi, a senior lawyer and Chairman of the Harmosh Youth Development Organization, warned that such measures would only strengthen public resolve. “Ehsan Advocate is a respected, principled leader. Arrests and repression will fuel unity, not fear, among the people,” he stated.
Raja Shakar, President of the AAC Youth Wing in Diamer, issued a stern response: “Ehsan Advocate represents the aspirations of Gilgit-Baltistan’s oppressed people. Targeting peaceful voices jeopardizes regional stability. If he is not released immediately, Diamer will react fiercely.”
Political Sensitivity of Gilgit-Baltistan
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of Gilgit-Baltistan’s contested status. The region, governed by Pakistan but claimed by India as part of Jammu and Kashmir, remains a geopolitical flashpoint. Local activists argue that its unresolved constitutional status exacerbates political and economic marginalization.
Civil society leaders urged authorities to “act responsibly,” emphasizing that “the disputed nature of this region demands caution. Provocative actions could spiral into unrest.”
Calls for Restraint
Human rights advocates and legal experts have demanded transparency, urging authorities to either present formal charges or release the detainees. International observers have long criticized Pakistan’s handling of dissent in Gilgit-Baltistan, citing restrictions on free speech and assembly.
Next Steps
The AAC has announced plans for protests and legal challenges if its leaders are not released. Meanwhile, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration has yet to issue an official statement.
As tensions simmer, the situation underscores the fragile balance between governance and dissent in a region where geopolitical stakes and local demands for rights continue to collide.
