London, Gilgit: Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Pakistani Embassy in London to protest the recent arrests of political leaders in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region administered by Pakistan and part of the broader Kashmir dispute.
Organized by the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) of Britain, the protest aimed to denounce what they call politically motivated detentions targeting grassroots activists advocating for public rights and resource sovereignty.
Background: Rising Crackdown in Gilgit-Baltistan
According to RCP representatives, several leaders from the Gilgit-Baltistan chapter of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan (AACGB) and the Revolutionary Communist Party of Pakistan were detained ahead of a scheduled public gathering. The meeting was set to focus on the region’s natural resources and the local population’s right to ownership—a recurring point of contention between local activists and the Pakistani state apparatus.
Among those arrested is Ehsan Ali, chairman of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan, a prominent advocate for socio-economic justice in the region. Ali has previously led mass movements demanding reductions in wheat prices and improvements in electricity, health, and education services in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Despite his peaceful activism, state institutions have reportedly subjected him to persistent surveillance and legal harassment. Authorities recently placed him under Pakistan’s controversial “Fourth Schedule,” restricting his freedom of movement.
Protest at Pakistani High Commission in London
Roughly 30 demonstrators assembled at the Pakistani High Commission in London on May 19 to voice their concerns over these arrests. Fiona Lali, the RCP’s campaign coordinator in Britain, attempted to deliver a formal letter of protest to the Pakistani High Commissioner. However, embassy officials allegedly refused to accept the letter or engage with the protesters. Instead, security personnel summoned the police, escalating tensions on-site.
Despite this, the protest continued peacefully, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Free Ehsan Ali” and “Free All Political Prisoners.” Eventually, the police permitted one representative to submit the letter via the embassy’s letterbox.
International Solidarity and Condemnation
In a statement, the Revolutionary Communist International condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of all detained activists. The group emphasized that those imprisoned are not criminals but community leaders standing against capitalist exploitation and advocating for the protection of local resources and democratic rights.
“We stand in full solidarity with our comrades in Gilgit-Baltistan who are being punished for speaking out against inequality and state repression,” the statement read. “This is not merely a regional issue—it is a global matter of human rights and justice.”
Call to the Global Community
The protesters appealed to international labor movements, civil society, and human rights organizations to raise their voices against the political suppression in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. They urged global observers to pressure Pakistani authorities to honor democratic principles and respect the civil liberties of all citizens.
The protest concluded with a clear warning: If the detained leaders are not released soon, further demonstrations and international actions will follow.
