[Date]
His/Her Excellency [Name]
High Commissioner/Ambassador of Pakistan
[Address of Pakistani Mission]
[City, Country]
Your Excellency,
Re: Urgent Appeal for the Release of Detained Leaders of Awami Action Committee Gilgit-Baltistan
We, on behalf of [your organisation], write to express our grave concern regarding the recent arrest and detention of prominent leaders of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit-Baltistan (AAC-GB) by Pakistani authorities.
Details of Concern
On 10 March, Pakistani police arrested several leading figures, including:
- Ehsan Ali, Chairman of AAC-GB and Advocate.
- Nusrat Hussain, AAC-GB.
- Mehboob Wali, AAC-GB
- Nafees AAC-GB and Advocate
- Mehar Ali, AAC-GB
These individuals have been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act, along with sections 153-A and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code, after attending an iftar dinner to discuss price hikes, the Land Reform Act and other issues. This is a clearly unjustified attack on these individuals’ democratic rights and we demand their immediate release.
The judge at Ehsan Ali’s hearing on 26 March even acknowledged that attending an iftar dinner does not constitute a “simple crime”, let alone an act of terrorism.
These arrests are utterly without merit and we urge you to intervene against this naked injustice. Ehsan Ali is in poor health, having already contracted pneumonia while in custody. His life could be in danger if this situation continues.
It has been alleged that Amara Sattar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Danyor, Gilgit Circle, was informed about Ehsan Ali’s critical health condition, requiring hospitalisation, and responded: “Leave it, there are orders from above … let him die.”
Background to These Arrests
Mr Ehsan Ali has been subjected to continuous harassment by state authorities. Last year, he was placed on the so-called ‘Fourth Schedule’ – legislation that severely restricts freedom of movement, which was originally designed for monitoring suspected terrorists. This represents a gross misuse of anti-terrorism legislation against legitimate political organisers.
He then spent three months in jail after being arrested on 16 May 2025. 14 other individuals were also detained under anti-terrorism legislation. The arrests followed a legitimate political meeting scheduled for 24-25 May in Skardu to address issues of vital importance to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, including:
- The proposed minerals bill affecting natural resource ownership.
- Access to basic necessities, including flour subsidies.
- Provision of electricity, healthcare, and education services.
Ehsan Ali and the other leading AAC members were all finally granted bail on 14 August, which goes to show the charges against them were utterly groundless.
Democratic Rights and International Standards
The AAC-GB has operated peacefully and successfully within democratic frameworks, achieving significant victories for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan:
- Securing flour subsidies for communities facing food insecurity.
- Negotiating improved access to electricity and essential services.
- Advocating for healthcare and educational provision in underserved areas.
These activities represent legitimate political organising and advocacy that should be protected under Pakistani law and international human rights standards, including:
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (to which Pakistan is a signatory).
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- Pakistan’s own constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly and expression.
Campaign Demands
In light of the above, we supporters of the solidarity campaign for the AAC-GB respectfully demand:
- Immediate and unconditional release of all detained AAC-GB leaders and activists.
- Dropping of all charges against the detained individuals, which appear to be politically motivated.
- Ehsan Ali to be removed from the Fourth Schedule.
- End to harassment and surveillance of AAC-GB members and supporters.
- Respect for democratic rights, including freedom of assembly, expression, and political organisation in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Implementation of the fourteen-point charter of demands previously agreed to by the Gilgit-Baltistan government.
International Attention
We wish to inform you that this case has attracted (and is still attracting) significant international attention from:
- Trade union organisations across multiple countries.
- Student movements and civil society groups.
- Human rights organisations.
- Parliamentary representatives and elected officials.
- The continued detention of these leaders damages Pakistan’s international reputation and undermines its commitment to democratic governance and human rights.
Request for Action
We call upon you to:
- Convey these concerns urgently to the relevant authorities in Islamabad.
- Use your diplomatic influence to secure the immediate release of the detained individuals.
- Provide us with an update on actions taken to address this situation.
- Facilitate dialogue between the Pakistani government and AAC-GB representatives.
In Short
The people of Gilgit-Baltistan deserve the same democratic rights and freedoms enjoyed by all Pakistani citizens. The criminalisation of peaceful political organising sets a dangerous precedent and undermines Pakistan’s democratic institutions.
We look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter and to receiving confirmation of steps taken to secure the release of these dedicated community leaders.
The international labour movement stands in solidarity with our comrades in Gilgit-Baltistan, and we will continue to monitor this situation closely.
Yours respectfully,
[Signature]
[Name and Title]
[Organisation]
[Contact Details]
CC:
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan (spokesperson.office1@mofa.gov.pk)
Minister of Interior, Pakistan (dslaw2@interior.gov.pk)
Chief Minister, Gilgit-Baltistan (info@gilgitbaltistan.gov.pk)
[Local MPs/Parliamentary Representatives]