A protest rally organized by the Awami Action Committee in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) highlighted the Pakistan Army’s blatant misuse of anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws to suppress the region’s marginalized communities. The rally, which saw significant participation, was a direct response to the Army’s continued efforts to stifle any form of dissent against its oppressive policies in PoGB.

The protest, led by prominent leaders including PoGB Awami Action Committee Chairman Ehsan Ali, Baltistan Division President Najaf Ali, senior leader Baba Jan, and Mumtaz Nagri, underscored the increasing frustration among the local population. The protesters marched along River View Road, culminating their demonstration at the central press club of PoGB, where they vocally condemned the Pakistan Army’s role in perpetuating injustices under the guise of national security.

The rally’s organizers said that the occupied-government, under the heavy influence of the military, of weaponizing anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws to file baseless charges against political workers and leaders of the Awami Action Committee. These laws are being deployed not to protect the nation but to crush any opposition to the military’s exploitative practices in the region. “These coercive measures are a deliberate attempt to silence those who dare to speak out for local rights,” said Najaf Ali, who emphasized that the people of PoGB will not tolerate these abuses.

Pakistan Army’s Abuse of Anti-Terrorism Laws

The protesters voiced their grievances over the Army’s continued neglect of fundamental rights in PoGB, pointing out that the military-backed government has failed to address even basic issues like uninterrupted electricity and local land ownership. Instead of addressing these legitimate concerns, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), under the Army’s directives, has resorted to filing false cases against residents who challenge their authority.

Speakers at the rally also said that the glaring lack of political representation in PoGB, noting that local body elections have not been held for the past two decades—a situation that benefits the Pak Army by keeping the local population politically disenfranchised. The issuance of mineral exploration licenses to outsiders, without local consent, is another example of how the region’s resources are being looted by the powers that be, further marginalizing the local population.

A resolution passed by the protesters demanded the immediate withdrawal of all cybercrime notices issued to political activists and the dismissal of the unjust cases filed against the office-bearers of the Awami Action Committee. They also called for the Army to stop using legal mechanisms as tools of oppression.

The rally in PoGB serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle against the Pakistan Army’s exploitation of marginalized regions like occupied-Gilgit-Baltistan. The protesters’ defiance against these oppressive tactics signals a growing resistance to the military’s unchecked power and its relentless campaign to suppress any voices that challenge its authority. The people of PoGB, long subjected to the Army’s heavy-handed rule, are increasingly standing up against the systemic injustices and demanding the respect and rights that have long been denied to them.

In a chilling display of state repression, Pak agencies have forcibly disappeared Abid Leghari, the brother of Talib Leghari, a patriotic national activist. The incident occurred following a raid on Talib Leghari’s house, where both the activist and his brother were interrogated by the authorities. This disappearance is just the latest in a series of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings that have plagued the Sindhi community for years.

The persecution of Sindhi activists extends beyond enforced disappearances. Earlier this week, a delegation from the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) was attacked while returning home from visiting injured national workers at Hyderabad Civil Hospital. This violent assault underscores the systematic targeting of those who dare to speak out against the Pak Army’s injustices.

The Sindhi people, along with other marginalized communities in Pakistan, have long been subjected to brutal repression. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the suppression of religious minorities are common tactics used by the Paki establishment to silence dissent. Sindhi Hindus, in particular, face increasing discrimination, with their plight largely ignored by the wider society.

Pakistan’s national identity appears to be narrowly defined, prioritizing the interests of the Punjabi elite while sidelining the diverse ethnic and religious groups that also call the country home. This exclusionary mindset is one of the primary reasons peaceful organizations like JSFM, which rely on protests and demonstrations to voice their concerns, are relentlessly targeted by the Pak military and its allied forces.

The brazen murder of Umar Sherani Murkai, a member of the National Democratic Movement’s (NDM) provincial organizing committee, has once again exposed the Pakistan Army’s relentless campaign of terror against those who dare to speak up for Pashtun rights. Manzoor Ahmed Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), visited Sherani’s home to express his grief and solidarity with the family. Sherani, a political activist known for his outspoken advocacy for Pashtun rights, was gunned down in cold blood just days ago in Dera Ismail Khan.

The PTM’s struggle against the heavy-handed and often brutal tactics of the Paki establishment has only intensified as the movement plans a significant national gathering on October 11. The PTM has been a vocal critic of the militarization of Waziristan through Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, and its condemnation of the occupied-govt’s inhumane policies has made it a prime target for Pak Army-sponsored violence.

The Pakistan Army’s systematic campaign of intimidation, abductions, and extrajudicial killings of activists is a clear violation of human rights and international law. This brutal crackdown not only reflects the Army’s long-standing disregard for the rule of law but also highlights its failure to respect the fundamental rights of the Pashtun people. Since the Army’s forceful occupation of the region in 1947, it has consistently trampled on the rights of the local population, using any means necessary to maintain its grip on power.

The Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) region continues to suffer under the neglect of the occupied-authorities, with countless lives lost in remote villages due to the complete absence of medical infrastructure and inaccessible roads.

The local village head, highlighted the devastating impact of the lack of medical facilities on their community. “Our community has been living here for more than 100 years. We have lost countless lives because we have no medical facilities. We are forced to use wooden stretchers to transport the sick and injured, often carrying pregnant women for miles. More often than not, either the mother or the child, or both, do not survive the journey,” he said.

The situation is so dire that the only medical personnel who occasionally visit the village come once every two to three months. The villagers, already struggling to survive, must scrape together donations amounting to approximately PKR 20,000 to cover the medical expenses.

But the lack of healthcare is only part of the problem. Another local resident emphasized that the dire state of education is just as alarming. “Zero medical infrastructure is just one part of the problem. Education is also a major concern. We barely have any educational facilities. The only school is kilometers away, with just one struggling teacher trying to educate the students in the valley,” he said.

In another damning report, a resident expressed deep frustration with the occupied-government’s total indifference to their plight. “The government is doing nothing for our valley. We haven’t seen any officials, nor have we received any assistance. It has become nearly impossible for us to afford even one meal a day. They are even cutting down our forests, leaving us with no resources. When we speak out against deforestation, we are threatened with imprisonment by government officials. We fear retaliation. Look at our conditions: there is no dispensary, and the roads are in terrible shape. The lack of proper roads creates numerous problems for us,” he added.

This neglect by the occupied-govt, particularly the Pakistan Army, which has a stronghold in the region, underscores the systematic abandonment of the PoGB by the very authorities who claim to govern it. Despite being under Pakistan’s control, the region has been left to deteriorate, with no investment in infrastructure, education, or healthcare. The Pakistan Army’s focus on militarization and exploitation of the region’s resources has left the local population in a state of perpetual despair, with their basic human rights ignored and their voices silenced.