Gilgit police arrest five more AAC activists in condemnation of state case

GILGIT: Gilgit police on Thursday arrested five more activists of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) in a case related to the condemnation of the state.

Police took into custody Sher Nadir Shahi, Advocate Mumtaz Hussain, and Advocate Nafees from outside the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court after their plea for renewal of pre-arrest bail was rejected.

Meanwhile, Advocate Taruf Abbas and Ibrar Ali Bagoro surrendered to the police voluntarily. With these arrests, the total number of detained AAC activists has risen to 11.

Earlier, on May 14, Gilgit police arrested AAC Chairman, communist leader, and prominent lawyer Advocate Ehsan Ali, Senior Vice President Mehboob Wali, and Finance Secretary Masood while they were holding a meeting in Gilgit to finalize arrangements for a jirga. The following day, AAC Youth Wing Chairman Asghar Shah and Waheed Hassan were arrested from the court premises.

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The activists are nominated in a First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Airport Police Station in Gilgit on May 7. The FIR was filed under Section 123A (condemnation of the creation of Pakistan), Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), and Section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), as well as Sections 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

According to the FIR, the accused allegedly chanted slogans such as: “Occupation of the land is unacceptable,” “Uniformed violence is unacceptable,” “The struggle against the occupiers should be intensified,” “The struggle against terrorists and war fanatics should be intensified,” “We will continue to fight for freedom,” “Our right is freedom,” and “Whoever is a friend of the state is a traitor,” during a rally held at River View Road which culminated at Gilgit Press Club.

The FIR said that by making provocative speeches and raising slogans against the state, the accused incited naive people to revolt, creating an atmosphere of fear and panic.

Similarly, police have arrested Irfan Hussain Azad and Manzar Maya in an FIR registered at Jutial Police Station for blocking the road at Nad-e-Ali Chowk in Gilgit during a protest demanding the release of their leaders.

These arrests have sparked strong criticism from political, social, and civil society circles both in the region and internationally. Communist parties in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, and other countries have called for the release of their comrades.