July 4, 2025 – As today’s court verdict approaches for Ehsan Ali and other detained leaders of the Awaami Action Committee Gilgit-Baltistan (AAC-GB), our Pakistan Solidarity Campaign has witnessed an unprecedented surge in international support.
Over the past week, we’ve documented 60 solidarity letters sent to Pakistani diplomatic missions worldwide, with supporters from six countries joining our campaign for justice. The emails, which were CC’d to contact@pakistansolidarity.org as requested, demonstrate the global reach of our movement and the power of collective action.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Supporters from Canada, the UK, Austria, Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey took action, sending carefully crafted appeals to Pakistani diplomats and government officials. The campaign reached its peak on July 3rd, with supporters sending emails throughout the day as the verdict deadline approached.
Some supporters showed remarkable dedication to the cause. One Canadian supporter led an intensive email campaign on July 3rd, sending hourly updates to ensure maximum pressure on decision-makers. A supporter from Mexico’s Organización Comunista Revolucionaria sent multiple follow-ups over several days, demonstrating the sustained commitment that characterises successful solidarity movements. Revolutionary Communist Party branches from multiple countries coordinated their efforts, embodying the spirit of international worker solidarity.
Every email carried the same unified message, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all detained AAC-GB leaders, the dropping of all politically motivated charges, the removal of Ehsan Ali from the Fourth Schedule, an end to harassment of AAC-GB members, and respect for democratic rights in Gilgit-Baltistan. This consistency in messaging amplified our collective voice, ensuring that Pakistani authorities could not ignore the international concern for these detained activists.
The campaign primarily targeted Muhammad Saleem, High Commissioner at the Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa, though supporters also reached out to Pakistani diplomatic missions in Vienna, Toronto, and Mexico City, as well as government officials in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. This multi-pronged approach ensured that our message reached decision-makers at various levels of government.
This coordinated international response sends a clear message: the world is watching. The criminalisation of peaceful political organising in Gilgit-Baltistan has not gone unnoticed. From university students to revolutionary organisations, from trade unionists to concerned citizens, people across the globe stand in solidarity with the detained leaders who were arrested on May 16 for planning a legitimate political meeting to address vital issues affecting their communities.
As we await today’s verdict, we want to thank every single person who took the time to write, to advocate, and to stand up for justice. Your voices matter. Your solidarity matters. Whether the verdict brings freedom or further challenges, this campaign has shown that Ehsan Ali and his fellow activists are not alone – they have the support of a global community committed to democratic rights and human dignity.
The struggle continues, and we will keep you updated on the verdict and our next steps. The international labour movement stands with our comrades in Gilgit-Baltistan, and we will continue to monitor this situation closely.
If you haven’t yet joined the campaign, it’s not too late. Contact us at contact@pakistansolidarity.org to learn how you can support the release of Ehsan Ali and other detained activists.