In Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, cases have been registered against 13 leaders of the Public Action Committee Gilgit-Baltistan under the Anti-Terrorism Act, while 5 leaders including the chairman of the committee and renowned lawyer Ehsan Ali Advocate have been arrested.
According to initial reports, the chairman of the Public Action Committee, Ehsan Ali Advocate, was arrested by the local police on the evening of March 10 during a raid at his house. In addition, Nafees Advocate, Nusrat Hussain, Engineer Mehboob Wali and Mehr Ali were also arrested yesterday and shifted to different police stations.
According to the police, other named persons including Zarif Abbas Advocate, Fida Isar, Masood-ur-Rehman, Waheed Hassan, Asghar Shah, Sahib Khan, Engineer Nadeem and Manzar Maya have not been arrested yet, while raids are underway at various places to arrest them.
According to the FIR filed on Tuesday by Jotial Police Station SHO Ghulam Sarwar, the leaders of the Public Action Committee are accused of making controversial speeches against the establishment during an iftar party in Skardu, Gilgit.
According to the FIR, these speeches took the stance that the Pakistani establishment wanted to seize the natural resources of Gilgit-Baltistan and an attempt was made to incite the people to launch a protest movement against it.
The police have registered cases against the leaders under sections 506 and 153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code in addition to the Anti-Terrorism Act.
On the other hand, there is intense anger and resentment in the public and political circles of Gilgit-Baltistan against the arrests of the leaders of the Public Action Committee. Various socio-political figures have condemned this action as revenge against peaceful political workers and those who raised their voices for public rights.
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