Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan-administered Kashmir): The Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan (AACGB) of Gilgit-Baltistan has issued a public appeal to international human rights organizations regarding the alleged inhumane treatment and torture of its leaders currently held in police custody in Gilgit.
According to a statement released by the AACGB, Chairman Advocate Ehsan Ali, aged 62, along with several other senior leaders, has been held under remand by the police wing in Gilgit for over a week. The committee alleges that during this period, the detained leaders have been subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse.
The statement further reveals that Advocate Ehsan Ali’s health deteriorated drastically due to the alleged mistreatment, prompting authorities to transfer him under heavy security to Shaheed Saifur Rehman Hospital in Gilgit. However, the AAC claims that even access to meet the ailing chairman has been denied.
The AACGB also expressed grave concerns for the safety of other detained leaders, including Masood-ul-Rehman, Mehboob Ali, Asghar Khan, and Waheed Hassan, warning that their lives remain at serious risk while in state custody. The worsening condition of Advocate Ehsan Ali is cited as a stark example of the dangers they face.
In an urgent appeal, the Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan has called on prominent international and national human rights organizations — including Amnesty International, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan — to intervene immediately. They urged these bodies to investigate the reports of torture and mistreatment and to ensure the protection and humane treatment of all detained leaders.
Gilgit-Baltistan has remained a focal point of political tension within the broader Kashmir conflict, with activists and political leaders often facing harsh crackdowns. The AACGB’s latest allegations add to concerns about the region’s human rights situation amid ongoing political unrest.
This report highlights the urgent need for transparent investigations and accountability to safeguard the rights and well-being of political detainees in Gilgit-Baltistan.