Misuse of Anti-Terrorism Laws in Gilgit Baltistan

Misuse of Anti-Terrorism Laws in Gilgit Baltistan The government of Pakistan is enacting the Anti-Terrorism Act 1976 to take action against terrorists and banned organizations in Pakistan, but the government has been misusing this law against nationalist political leaders and human rights and social media activists of Gilgit Baltistan since June 21, 2018. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has confirmed in its report 2020 that the government of Pakistan is misusing the Anti-Terrorism Act to harass political and human rights activists in Gilgit Baltistan. There are 36 persons placed in the proscribed person list, the majority of them are political and social activists raising voice for the rights of Gilgit Baltistan. For the last six years, government secret agencies have also been negotiating with various people to remove their names from Schedule IV.Many people have been withdrawn from the Schedule Forth after a secret deal and a pledge was taken from them that they will not do any kind of politics on the national issues of Gilgit Baltistan and will live a life of anonymity. The imposing of ATA Schedule IV on peaceful political workers and social media activists contradict the provisions of the Geneva Convention and the Constitution of Pakistan, which allegedly deprive people of the right to vote, the right to organize, the right to expression, the right to employment and the right to freedom. The prominent political leaders and right activists are still being placed on Schedule fourh to suppress their leadership skills by weakening them economically and keeping them away from the struggle for people's rights. The Chairman and Chief Organizer of Gilgit Baltistan United Movement are among them, who are constantly being placed in schedule forth to suppress their struggle for the rights of the enslaved people of Gilgit Baltistan . All the persons included in schedule four have had their bank accounts frozen, identity cards blocked and passports confiscated and their political activities banned. They are not allowed to run business or services. Their families are badly suffering and children are being force to left the schools. The Anti-Terrorism Law cannot be implemented in a disputed region under any circumstances constitutionally and legally, the purpose of the application of this law is only to crush the people's resistance movement against the colonial system in the disputed region. Actions against Political leaders and Social Activists by Misusing Schedule 4th Hunza: Hasnain Ramal hailing from Hunza a social media activist has been arrested on June 2021 and sent jail on posting a public issue on facebook. Earlier Ramal’s name was put on Schedule 4 of the # ATA to make ground to arrest him. He was under trail in Anti Terrorism Court last 8 years on posting political, national and basic human rights’ issues of Gilgit Baltistan on social media. SKARDU: Young lawyer and activist and leader Asif Naji, and GBUM activist Shabbir Mayar were arrested by law enforcement agencies on 7 September 2018.Both were put in schedule 4 of the Anti-Terrorist Act before arrestment. Skardu : Nationalist leader Manzoor Parwana ( Chairman GBUM) was arrested on 1st July 2021 on a post in social media against FWO ,an army construction company on illegal land grabbing and damaging public property on Juglote Skardu road. He was imprisoned then got bail from court; he is under trial in the ATA court last 4 years for justice. Kharmang : Shabbir Mayar Chief Organizer GBUM was arrested on 19th October 2023 . His arrest comes in the wake of the sealing of Central Secretariat of Gilgit Baltistan United Movement by the authorities in Skardu. The administration sealed the Central Secretariat of GBUM later arrested the chief organizer and sent jail with charged that he did not follow schedule 4th restriction. Nagar: The social media activist Yawar Abbas from Nagar, Gilgit Baltistan arrested on 22 June 2024, accused to "maintain public order." The order accuses Yawar Abbas of "instigating" the public against various institutions and had previously been placed on the controversial "Schedule 4" list. The Deputy Commissioner has decreed that Yawar Abbas be held for 30 days at Minawar Jail in Gilgit. ISSUED Muhammad Iqbal Secreatry General Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Gilgit Baltistan. References

Gilgit-Baltistan: The Second Baluchistan

Gilgit-Baltistan: The Second Baluchistan For the past seven decades, Gilgit-Baltistan has been a victim of governmental oppression, primarily due to its disputed status between Pakistan and India. This region, a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, is under the colonial administrative control of the Government of Pakistan, which is managed collectively by the civilian and military establishment through a presidential order. The people here are completely deprived of their national identity and basic human rights, and are also lacking fundamental facilities such as water, electricity, education, health, and justice. Considering the geographical and regional significance of Gilgit-Baltistan, the Government of Pakistan is rapidly working to change the demographics of this region. Recently, the State Subject Rules were abolished in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, and a new land law called the Land Reform Act has been introduced, which is against the centuries-old customary laws here. According to this law, the forests, minerals, mountains, pastures, tourist spots, and glaciers of Gilgit-Baltistan have been declared government property, to pave the way for settling non-state individuals in this region. In response to these illegal and anti-people measures, nationalist, progressive, and other religious parties of Gilgit-Baltistan announced a national Jirga on May 24, 2025. To suppress any potential public backlash and resistance movement, the government has arrested key leaders of the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action Committee. So far, thirteen leaders are in captivity, while hundreds of leaders and activists are in hiding due to being named in FIRs. Among the arrested leaders are Ehsan Ali Advocate, the Chairman of the Awami Action Committee, Mehboob Wali,the leader AACGB , Mumtaz Nagri and Taaruf Abbas Advocate of the Karakoram National Movement, , President of the Traders Association of Gilgit-Baltistan Masood ur Rehman, Nafis Ahmed Advocate and Irfan Azad, leaders of the Baltistan National Front Sher Nadir Shahi Advocate leader of the Awami Workers Party and well-known nationalist leader Aslam Inqilabi, while Shabbir Mayar, Chief Organizer of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement, has been kept under house arrest in his village. All these political leaders have been charged with treason and terrorism. The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan announced during an assembly session that those opposing the Land Reform Act and the Minerals Mines Act would be hanged, which has increased the gravity of the situation. Amid the celebrations of Pakistan's victory in the war against India, the arrest of national and political leaders of Gilgit-Baltistan has spread unrest among the people, and cases of treason and terrorism are also being filed against those protesting for the release of the arrested leaders, prompting women to take the lead in protests. Recently, hundreds of women took to the streets in Gilgit city demanding the release of their loved ones and leaders. These protests indicate a situation in Gilgit-Baltistan similar to that of Balochistan, where a struggle for the control of natural resources is ongoing. Just as men have been disappeared in Balochistan while women take to the streets, in Gilgit-Baltistan, men are being arrested, and women have come out demanding their release. The Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action Committee has called for a protest on June 6, 2025, and the public is preparing for resistance, while the government has also hinted at suppressing public resistance by force. Gilgit-Baltistan, located at the convergence of four nuclear nations and being the largest source of fresh water, is becoming increasingly significant. Gilgit-Baltistan is essential for the survival of Pakistan, China, India, and Afghanistan, thus the tug-of-war over Gilgit-Baltistan may once again heighten the chances of war among neighboring countries. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan desire to see this region as a buffer state so that all neighboring countries can protect its natural resources and develop its ancient trade routes, bringing economic prosperity to their countries. This aligns with the universally accepted principle of "live and let live." However, the situation for local people in Gilgit-Baltistan is becoming increasingly constrained day by day. It is crucial to take the gravity of this situation seriously; otherwise, the possibility of changes in the current geographical boundaries of Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be ruled out. The Writer is a freelance journalist and political and social leader of Gilgit Baltistan

Protest against GBUM Chief Shabbir Mayar in Gilgit Baltistan

GBUM- Central Secretariat Banned for 2 years