Genocide Watch: Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
- Genocide Watch
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 6
Genocide Watch: Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
by Franzie Schatzl and Grace Harris
April 2, 2026
Gilgit-Baltistan is in the northernmost corner of Pakistani Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan is a Shi’ite region in predominantly Sunni Pakistan. The citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) have no representation in the Pakistani Parliament. Pakistani Kashmir suffers from extreme poverty and underdevelopment, although it is abundant in natural resources.
Gilgit-Baltistan is the only route connecting Pakistan with China and central Asian states. The forced acquisition of community-owned lands by Pakistan, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to build the Pakistan-China highway, resulted in forced displacement of thousands of people.
The division of Kashmir is the result of the failure since 1947 to hold a referendum on whether Kashmiri citizens would join India or Pakistan. Indian Kashmir held semi-autonomous status until the Modi government revoked it. Since 2008, India's claim on the Pakistani Kashmir has continued. China backs Pakistan. The conflicting economic and strategic interests of Pakistan, India, and China cause regional instability.
Vacant positions in the Gilgit-Baltistan judiciary and Supreme Appellate Court have resulted in 10.000 cases pending, With only one judge to decide cases, the judiciary's independence has been undermined. There are numerous claims of politically influenced decisions and sentences.
Anti-terrorism laws, particularly Schedule IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, have been used to silence human rights activists and defenders of political prisoners under false “terrorism” charges.
On 10 March 2026, Ehsan Ali – the founder of the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action Committee (AAC-BC) – was arrested. Ehsan Ali was formerly Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Chief Advocate. Several other leaders of the AAC-BC were also arrested: Nusrat Hussain, Mehboob Wali, Nafees Advocate, and Mehar Ali. The AAC-BC leaders have been charged with inciting violence under the Anti-Terrorism Act, allegedly for making anti-Pakistan speeches and planning peaceful protests.
The conditions of imprisonment of Ehsan Ali according to on-the-ground reporting violate international conventions on the treatment of prisoners. Ehsan Ali, who is in his sixties, is being held in poor conditions and his health has deteriorated since his arrest.
Despite two orders of a judge in mid-March, Ehsan Ali was not transferred to a hospital for treatment until he developed pneumonia and lost consciousness in a police station. Ehsan Ali was brought to his delayed hearing on March 26 in an ambulance. Under pressure from Pakistani authorities, the judge extended his police custody until April 9 using new legislation that authorizes extended custody to 90 days without any hearing in so-called “terrorism” trials.
Protests demanding release of Ehsan Ali and other AAC-BC leaders have been held across the region, including a solidarity strike by lawyers in Gilgit-Baltistan on March 16 and a global day of action on April 2, 2026. The Human Rights Council of Pakistan and the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Association have made statements protesting Ehsan Ali’s arrest and detention. Prior arrests of AAC-BC leaders in May 2025 were met with three months of protests. Ehsan Ali and other AAC-BC leaders were released on bail 14 August 2025. Now they have been rearrested.
Of particular concern are reports of torture and medical coercion in jail, with attempts made to extract false confessions of working on behalf of foreign powers. Families of arrested activists, including mothers and sisters, have been threatened and pressured to convince their relatives in prison to make false confessions and shut down all AAC-BC protests.
Pakistan has intensified state efforts to silence dissent during the Iran war, in which Pakistan is trying to mediate the conflict. Hikes in government-controlled energy prices and rising concerns about Pakistan’s war with Afghanistan have heightened the government’s repression of opposition.
Anti-war protests turned deadly in March, when 26 people were killed in Karachi, Islamabad, and Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistani authorities and many more were injured. Large gatherings have been banned nationwide.
The arbitrary arrest of Ehsan Ali and other AAC-GB leaders follow longstanding state repression of political dissent using false legal charges of “terrorism.” Pakistan is violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Torture Convention, and other international laws protecting freedom of expression, freedom from arbitrary arrests, and freedom from torture,
Due to Pakistan’s persecution of political opposition leaders in Gilgit-Baltistan, Genocide Watch considers Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan to be at Stage 3: Discrimination, Stage 5: Organization, and Stage 8: Persecution.
Genocide Watch Recommends
Ehsan Ali and other leaders of the AAC-GB must be released immediately.
Gilgit-Baltistan citizens must be accorded all rights of citizens of Pakistan, including freedom of movement, expression, association, religion, and assembly.
Gilgit-Baltistan citizens must have the right to vote and to elect members of Parliament.
Schedule IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 should be repealed.
All vacant positions in the judiciary of Gilgit-Baltistan must be filled by competent judges.
Gilgit-Baltistan’s courts and the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Association must adopt and enforce codes of ethics that prohibit political influence in indictments, trials, and court decisions.
Forced acquisition of community-owned land by Pakistan, India, and China must be fairly compensated to communities that formerly owned it.
People forcibly displaced to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be fully compensated and resettled at government expense.
