Leaders Arrested for Standing Against Exploitation
Working class activists worldwide protest the arrest of the leaders of the Awaami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan (AAC-GB) by police in Pakistan. We send our solidarity to the arrested workers leaders, who are facing repression for opposing the plunder of the land and resources of the region by the capitalists and imperialists.
Among the arrested are:
- Ehsan Ali, chairman of the AAC-GB
- Waheed Hassan, media officer
- Mehboob Wali, vice chairman
- Asghar Shah, chairman of the AAC-GB youth wing
- Masood Ur Rehman and other leaders
The reason for this repression is clear. The Awaami Action Committee has mobilised continuously against the plundering of the region.
Call for International Solidarity
We appeal to all supporters and to the wider labour movement internationally to protest against this brutality:
- Raise your voices in protest
- Go to Pakistan’s embassies to deliver letters and petitions of protest
- Publish images of protests on social media
- Apply pressure on prominent trade union leaders, left-wing members of parliament and others to raise their voices in protest
History of the Awaami Action Committee
This movement started many years ago against the ending of the flour subsidy in Gilgit Baltistan, mobilising thousands of people across the whole region. The movement was successful and the government of Gilgit Baltistan was forced to accept its demands.
Under the leadership of Ehsan Ali Advocate, the movement went on to agitate for further demands of the local people, who are living in extremely difficult conditions. Last year, the movement:
- Scored another victory that helped reduce the prices of flour
- Forced the government to concede on other issues
- Improved supply of electricity, healthcare and education for the people in this crisis-ridden region
After these victories, Ehsan Ali was elected as the official chairman of the movement, which extended and began organising in all the districts of Gilgit Baltistan.
State Repression Intensifies
The government of Gilgit Baltistan, under the dictates of Islamabad, put Ehsan Ali on the Fourth Schedule, which meant he was placed under continuous police surveillance. The “Fourth Schedule” law was initially used to monitor terrorists and ban terrorist organisations, but now the state is using this law against leaders of mass movements fighting for the rights of the people.
Under this law:
- Ehsan Ali’s movements were restricted
- He was told to report to the police before leaving the city or attending political activities
- Despite these restrictions, he carried on organising for the basic rights of the people
In December last year, he was briefly arrested in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, but was released after a protest by dozens of lawyers.
Recent Events Leading to Arrests
Last week, when he was going to Skardu, the main city of Baltistan, to organise a meeting of the AAC-GB, Ehsan Ali was stopped by local police and asked to return home. The AAC-GB was planning a grand meeting to address various immediate issues facing the people, including the proposed minerals bill. The grand meeting, scheduled for 24-25 May, struck fear into the state authorities.
Ehsan Ali and his comrades peacefully protested against this brutal measure to restrict his movement in Gilgit. At that protest, participants:
- Raised slogans against the dictatorial rule
- Opposed oppression by the Pakistani state in Gilgit Baltistan
- Criticised the ruling classes of both India and Pakistan for waging imperialist wars in the region
Judicial Farce
Now they have been arrested for that protest and charged with disturbing public order for raising slogans against the state authorities:
- Ehsan Ali has been remanded in police custody until 28 May
- Some of the other comrades arrested have been remanded until 22 May
- Their lawyers were not allowed to move bail applications
Ongoing Solidarity Actions
Protests were held in Gilgit and Hunza on 15 May for the release of the comrades while police continued to arrest more activists. The protests will continue with more planned in the coming days.
Working class activists have also announced protests in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad for Saturday 17 May.
The leadership of the Joint Awaami Action Committee of Azad Kashmir has also issued a statement of solidarity and has condemned this brutality.
Our Demands
We demand:
- The immediate release of Ehsan Ali and all members of AAC-GB
- That the fabricated case brought against them be quashed
- The immediate removal of Ehsan Ali’s name from the Fourth Schedule
- That his right to free movement be immediately restored
- An end to all restrictions on his political activities
- That all the demands of the AAC-GB be accepted immediately
Join the Solidarity Campaign
We appeal to workers worldwide to support this just struggle against brutal oppression. The comrades have made clear that they will not be stopped by state repression and will continue to fight injustice until their goals are achieved.
Long live the unity of the working class!
An injury to one is an injury to all!
Free the leaders of the Awaami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan!
End state repression!
Workers of the world, unite!
