A human rights organization has called on Pakistani authorities to release all detained members of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) and drop charges related to their peaceful activism. Amnesty International expressed concern over seven AAC members being held under anti-terrorism laws for over 45 days for engaging in peaceful assembly and expression. The charges relate to alleged anti-state speeches during an Iftar dinner on March 8 and planning a protest, activities protected by international human rights laws.
The detained include 70-year-old lawyer and AAC chairperson Ehsan Ali, whose prolonged detention has raised worries about his health and due process. Despite requests for hospitalization, Ehsan was not given proper medical care until his health deteriorated significantly, leading to pneumonia and loss of consciousness in police custody. Concerns have been raised about the adequacy of medical care provided to Ehsan and two other detained activists at the District Headquarters Hospital in Gilgit.
Other AAC members implicated in the case have curtailed their movement and activities out of fear of arrest, hindering their participation in the upcoming PoGB elections scheduled for June 7, 2026. Amnesty International emphasized the need for immediate access to healthcare for all detainees awaiting release and highlighted that arbitrary detentions should not infringe upon rights guaranteed by international human rights laws, especially during election periods.
